United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma

Last updated

United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
(N.D. Okla.)
Oklahoma-northern.gif
Location Tulsa
More locations
Appeals to Tenth Circuit
EstablishedFebruary 16, 1925
Judges4
Chief Judge John F. Heil III
Officers of the court
U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson
U.S. Marshal Clayton D. Johnson
www.oknd.uscourts.gov

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma (in case citations, N.D. Okla.) is a federal court in the Tenth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).

Contents

The District was established on February 16, 1925, with the transfer of a judgeship in the Eastern District to the newly established Northern district. [1]

Organization of the court

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma is one of three federal judicial districts in Oklahoma. [2] Court for the District is held at Tulsa.

The court's jurisdiction comprises the following counties: Craig, Creek, Delaware, Mayes, Nowata, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Rogers, Tulsa, and Washington.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. As of December 26,2021 the United States attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma is Clint Johnson. [3]

Current judges

As of March 1,2025:

#TitleJudgeDuty stationBornTerm of serviceAppointed by
Active Chief Senior
20Chief Judge John F. Heil III [Note 1] Tulsa 19682020–present2021–present— Trump
21District Judge Sara E. Hill Tulsa 19772024–present—— Biden
22District Judge John D. Russell Tulsa 19632024–present—— Biden
23District Judgevacant——————
13Senior Judge Terence C. Kern Tulsa 19441994–20101996–20032010–present Clinton
16Senior Judge Claire Eagan Tulsa 19502001–20222005–20122022–present G.W. Bush
17Senior Judge James H. Payne [Note 1] inactive19412001–2017—2017–present G.W. Bush
18Senior Judge Gregory Kent Frizzell Tulsa 19562007–20252012–20192025–present G.W. Bush
19Senior Judge John E. Dowdell inactive19552012–20212019–20212021–present Obama
  1. 1 2 Jointly appointed to the Eastern, Northern, and Western Districts of Oklahoma.

Vacancies and pending nominations

SeatPrior judge's duty stationSeat last held byVacancy reasonDate of vacancyNomineeDate of nomination
1 Tulsa Gregory Kent Frizzell Senior status March 1, 2025––

Former judges

#JudgeStateBorn–diedActive service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed byReason for
termination
1 Franklin Elmore Kennamer OK 1879–19601925–1940 [Note 1] —1940–1960 Coolidge/Operation of law death
2 Alfred P. Murrah OK 1904–19751937–1940 [Note 2] —— F. Roosevelt elevation to 10th Cir.
3 Bower Slack Broaddus OK 1888–19491940–1949 [Note 2] —— F. Roosevelt death
4 Royce H. Savage OK 1904–19931940–19611949–1961— F. Roosevelt resignation
5 William Robert Wallace OK 1886–19601950–1960 [Note 2] —— Truman death
6 Luther L. Bohanon OK 1902–20031961–1974 [Note 2] —1974–2003 Kennedy death
7 Frederick Alvin Daugherty OK 1914–20061961–1982 [Note 3] [Note 2] —1982–2006 Kennedy death
8 Allen E. Barrow OK 1914–19791962–19791962–1979— Kennedy death
9 H. Dale Cook OK 1924–20081974–1992 [Note 2] 1979–19921992–2008 Ford death
10 Thomas Rutherford Brett OK 1931–20211979–19961994–19961996–2003 Carter retirement
11 James O. Ellison OK 1929–20141979–19941992–19941994–2014 Carter death
12 David Lynn Russell OK 1942–present1981–1990 [Note 2] —— Reagan seat abolished
14 Michael Burrage OK 1950–present1994–2001 [Note 2] —— Clinton resignation
15 Sven Erik Holmes OK 1951–present1994–20052003–2005— Clinton resignation
  1. ↑ Reassigned from the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Jointly appointed to the Eastern, Northern, and Western Districts of Oklahoma.
  3. ↑ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 15, 1962, confirmed by the United States Senate on February 7, 1962, and received commission on February 17, 1962.

Chief judges

Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the district court judges. To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge.

A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years, or until age 70, whichever occurs first. The age restrictions are waived if no members of the court would otherwise be qualified for the position.

When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire, on what has since 1958 been known as senior status, or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.

Succession of seats

See also

References

  1. ↑ U.S. District Courts of Oklahoma, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center
  2. ↑ 28 U.S.C.   § 116
  3. ↑ "Clinton Johnson Appointed U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma" (Press release). December 29, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2022.

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