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The information provided in this guide is to help Oklahomans not only research judges during elections but also if your case is before a particular judge. Judges are a crucial part of the legal system and affect everything from criminal sentencing to a law’s constitutionality. Who holds the gavel will greatly impact the course of a trial if facing prosecution or a lawsuit.
Disclaimer: The information provided for each candidate has been compiled from publicly available information.
Featured guides are not endorsed by Metriarch®. They are for reference purposes only.
Oklahomans for Health & Parental Rights (OKHPR)
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ADA = Assistant District Attorney
JD = Juris Doctorate (law degree)
District Court Judges oversee almost all civil and criminal matters in their jurisdiction, including anything from divorces to homicides. There are 26 district court judicial districts in Oklahoma, which can have one or multiple district judges and serve one or multiple counties.
Elections for district judge are nonpartisan and happen every four years. Candidates for district judge must be a practicing lawyer or judge for at least the past four years and must live in the districts in which they seek election.
Associate District Court Judges also oversee many of the civil and criminal matters in their jurisdiction. There is one associate district judge per county.
Elections for associate district judge are nonpartisan and happen every four years. Associate judges must have been practicing lawyers or judges for at least the past two years and must live in the districts in which they seek election.
Comanche, Cotton, Jefferson, and Stephens Counties
Russell is the sitting Associate District Judge in Stephens County appointed by Governor Brad Henry in 2006. Judge Russell is a former ADA in Stephens County. Judge Rusell has sentenced at least one defendant to death.
Education/Career: Russell obtained his bachelor's degree in political science and public affairs from Oklahoma State University in 1981 and his J.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1985. He had prior experience as a partner at Ellis, Leonard, Buckholts and Russell.
Currently Walker is a defense attorney, solo practitioner, focusing in the following areas of law: personal injury, family law, criminal defense (federal and state), DUI/DWI, employment, insurance, malpractice, mediation, nursing home negligence, estate planning, and wrongful death. West has prior experience working in the Comanche County District Attorney’s Office as an ADA. Admitted to the Oklahoma bar in 1982.
Education/Career: Walker obtained a BA in History and Physical Education in 1974 from Cameron University and earned a JD in 1982 from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Walker previously ran for this position in 2014. Walker is a former Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics' Prosecutor of the Year. Admitted to the Oklahoma Bar in 1982.
Member of the following: Oklahoma Criminal Defense Lawyers Association; The Association of American Trial Lawyers; Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association; United States Supreme Court; United States Court Of Appeals 10th Circuit; and Western District Court of Oklahoma.
Community/Personal: Resides in Lawton, Oklahoma.
Meaders is the Chief Judge for Comanche County and is running for reelection. He was appointed District Judge for Comanche and Cotton Counties by Governor Mary Fallin in 2017. His docket primarily consists of large civil cases, felony criminal cases, and cases involving family law. On why he is running, Meaders states, “It’s been an honor to serve as District Judge for Comanche, Cotton, Stephens and Jefferson counties the past 5 years. I have the experience and patience to carefully consider both sides of any dispute and reach a decision. My record shows a successful, common-sense approach to resolving cases fairly and impartially. With your help, I will continue to do so.” Judge Meaders has served as district judge for Comanche, Cotton, Stephens and Jefferson counties for the past 5 years. Judge Meaders currently serves as the chief judge for Comanche county.
Education/Career: Meaders graduated from Lawton High School in 1985 and then went on to earn his bachelors of arts from the University of Oklahoma in 1989 and his law degree from Oklahoma City University in 1995. Meaders has 22 years of service in the Army Reserve and holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserves and serves as a reserve military judge assigned to the Third Judicial District where he presides over general and special court-martial cases. In addition to his civilian education, Meaders is a graduate of the following military schools: the Judge Advocate General's Officer Basic Course, Charlottesville, Virginia (2002); the Judge Advocate General's Officer Advanced Course, Charlottesville, Virginia (2008); the Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas (2012); the Military Judge Course, Charlottesville, Virginia (2020). Meaders was mobilized and deployed to Iraq in 2008 for a one-year combat tour, earning a bronze star for his service.
Meaders has 26 years of legal experience, including work in private practice, as an ADA for Comanche County , as deputy city attorney for Lawton, and as a district judge for the past 5 years.
Personal/Community: Meaders is an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and Great Plains AMBUCS.
Election website: https://votemeaders.com
Sheperd was appointed as special judge for Comanche County in 2019, and has presided over misdemeanor and felony arraignments, felony preliminary hearings and protective order cases and small claims cases. On why he serves as a judge, Sheperd states, “I will be an experienced and dedicated judge intent on firmly but fairly delivering justice for the people of Southwest Oklahoma.”
Education/Career: Sheperd earned his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Oklahoma. He was in private practice for eight years before joining the court.
Personal/Community: Sheperd is a self-proclaimed strict Constitutionalist and believes in limited government and that the courts must be viewed as impartial. He attends church at First Baptist Lawton. Sheperd is on the board of Lawton AMBUCS, which helps create mobility and independence for people with disabilities
Election website: https://grantsheperd.com
Also on the ballot:
Associate District Judges
Stephens County
Statewide Judges
Oklahoma Supreme Court
Civil Court of Appeals
Oklahoma County
Appointed by Governor Stitt in July 2020, Judge Stinson currently is Oklahoma County Special Judge hearing cases on the family and domestic docket. Prior to being appointed to the bench, Judge Stinson was the owner and managing member of Stinson Law Group from 2014 to 2017, and served as an adjunct professor at Oklahoma City University School of Law from 2015 to 2017.
Education/Career: Judge Stinson earned a BA in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1999, and a JD from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 2002. Judge Stinson previously served as an associate attorney at Kirk & Chaney, PLLC and Walker, Ferguson & Ferguson. Stinson has also served as a law clerk for Judge Gary Lumpkin at the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals prior to joining the bench. Judge Stinson has received: Judge of the Year, Oklahoma Bar Association (Family Law Section); Beacon Award, Oklahoma County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division; Leadership in Law Award, Journal Record; Achievers Under 40 Award, Journal Record; and AV Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
Community/Personal: Judge Stinson is a native of Boise City and currently resides in Edmond.
Savage currently is a sitting special judge in Oklahoma County. As a Special District Judge, Savage has presided over small claims litigation, hearing on assets, forcible entry and detainer actions, felony criminal preliminary hearings and misdemeanor jury trials. Savage is a former ADA for Oklahoma County, Muskogee and Pottawatomie County. Additional experience: Deputy Chief Assistant Attorney General of the Multi-County Grand Jury Unit and the General Counsel Unit providing legal counsel for the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision; Oklahoma Able Commission; Oklahoma Real Estate Commission; Oklahoma Funeral Board; and the Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Psychologists with the State of Oklahoma Office of Attorney General. Savage oversaw the preliminary hearing of fatal police shooting and sent the case to trial for second-degree murder (Keith Patrick Sweeney case). Admitted to the Oklahoma bar in 2001.
Education/Career: Savage attended Oklahoma State University for an undergraduate degree and earned her Juris Doctorate from the Oklahoma City University School of Law in 2001.
Community/Personal: Savage is a member of the William J. Holloway Chapter of: the American Inns of Court and has the following experience: Oklahoma County Bar Association Board of Director 2021-2024; Downtown Oklahoma City Exchange Club President 2021-2022; Oklahoma Bar Association Law Schools Committee and High School Mock Trial Judge and scoring panelist; Oklahoma University School of Law Mock Trial Court Judge American Bar Association Mock Trial Judge and scoring panelist and the Oklahoma City University School of Law Alumni Association. Savage is a member of the Pi Beta Phi Edmond Aluma Club.
Election website: https://www.savage4judge.com/
Also on the ballot:
Associate District Judges
Oklahoma County
Statewide Judges
Oklahoma Supreme Court
Civil Court of Appeals
Tulsa and Pawnee Counties
Gray is a current ADA for Tulsa County and has worked in the district attorney’s office for the last 11 years under Steve Kuntzweiler in the criminal division. Gray prosecuted the Kepler case in Tulsa County in 2017. Gray currently is the Director of the Tulsa County homicide unit.
Education/Career: A Booker T. Washington high school graduate, Gray was a Presidential Scholar at The University of Tulsa, where he double majored in history and political science. Gray obtained a Master’s of Public Service Administration from The Bush School at Texas A&M University, before returning to Tulsa to attend The University of Tulsa Law School. Admitted to the Oklahoma bar in 2009.
Community/Personal: Gray is a member of the board of the Tulsa Air & Space Museum. He now serves as a member of the Emeritus Board.
Endorsements from: Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado, Glenpool Fraternal Order of Police Lodge, Tulsa FirePAC, Tulsa Beacon, Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell.
Election website: https://kevingrayfordistrictjudge.com/
Also on the ballot:
Statewide Judges
Oklahoma Supreme Court
Civil Court of Appeals
Choctaw, McCurtain, and Pushmataha Counties
Judge Herron was appointed as special judge in May 2022 after serving as an ADA in McCurtain County for 11 years where she prosecuted domestic violence cases, taking a tough approach and reporting doing everything in her power to convince a domestic violence survivor to prosecute her abuser. Prior to becoming an ADA, Judge Herron worked as a criminal defense attorney in Idabel. Judge Herron also is an adjunct professor at Eastern Oklahoma State College.
Education/Career: Prior to joining the bench, Judge Herron was an attorney in private practice, focusing on personal injury, wrongful death, estate planning and family law. Herron received the Mary Ellen Wilson Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Award in 2014 sponsored by The Office of Child Abuse Prevention (OSDH).
Community/Personal: Judge Herron resides in Idabel.
Also on the ballot:
Associate District Judges
McCurtain County
Statewide Judges
Oklahoma Supreme Court
Civil Court of Appeals
Cleveland, Garvin, and McClain Counties
Tupper is the current district judge for District 21. In this position he presides over all varieties of civil, family law, and criminal cases and serves as the presiding judge of Cleveland County’s Treatment Court and Wellness Court programs, which is a past recipient of the SOAR Award, given annually by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to the Most Outstanding Drug Court in the state.
Education/Career: Judge Tupper earned a JD from University of Oklahoma College of Law in 2002. Tupper served as Special Judge for Cleveland County for eight years, and he was a former Cleveland County ADA and prosecuted homicides, sex crimes, violent offenses, and drug trafficking cases.
In addition to his work at the courthouse, Tupper has served as a national advocate for the drug treatment court system, traveling to Washington, D.C. in 2017 and 2018 as Oklahoma’s judicial representative to the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.
Tupper is also a graduate of Norman Police Department Citizens Police Academy and the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Citizens Academy. He has experience in various executive positions within the Cleveland County Bar Association, including Young Lawyers Division Chairperson, Vice-President, and President-elect.
Awards: Named Judge of the Year by the Family Law Section of the Oklahoma Bar Association, Recipient of the Norman Chamber of Commerce’s Norman Next Under 40 Leadership Award, Recognized as Professional Advocate of the Year by the Criminal Law Section of the Oklahoma Bar Association, Certificate of Appreciation from Drug Enforcement Agency for outstanding contributions in the field of drug law enforcement, Citation of Recognition from Oklahoma House of Representatives for demonstrated leadership and interest in making Norman a great community, Certificate of Appreciation from Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics for outstanding service and dedication, Selected as the Judicial Representative for the State of Oklahoma at the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) Spring Congressional Fly-Ins.
Community/Personal: Tupper is an active parishioner of St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Norman. Tupper states that his Christian faith and values serve as a compass in every facet of his life. He has served on the Salvation Army Citizens Advisory Council, Among Friends Activity Center Board, Parents Helping Parents, Inc. Board, Thunderbird Clubhouse Board, and a Mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Endorsed by: Norman Mayor Larry Heikkila, Oklahoma County Sheriff Tommie Johnson III, Coach Switzer, Moore Lodge 131 Fraternal Order of Police, Norman Fire Fighters IAFF Local 2067, Cleveland County Sheriff Chris Amason, McClain County Sheriff Offolter, Norman Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 122,
Election website: https://www.judgetupper2022.com
Also on the ballot:
Associate District Judges
Cleveland County
Garvin County
McClain County
Statewide Judges
Oklahoma Supreme Court
Civil Court of Appeals
Lincoln and Pottawatomie Counties
Solo practitioner in Del City; areas of focus: adoption, federal appellate practice, Indian law, family law, estate planning; She is a self-proclaimed constitutional advocate and considers compassion to be her forefront value. Admitted to Oklahoma bar in 2003.
Education/Career: Soderstrom earned her JD from Oklahoma City University in 2003, cum laude. Soderstrom has been a founding partner at Soderstrom & Associates, PC since 2007.
Community/Personal: Soderstrom is a Oklahoma National Guard veteran, small business owner, and rancher.
Election website: https://www.soderstromforjudge.com/
Also on the ballot:
Statewide Judges
Oklahoma Supreme Court
Civil Court of Appeals
Atoka and Coal Counties
Mowdy is a former criminal defense attorney and current Associate District Judge. Admitted to the Oklahoma state bar in 1984.
Education/Career: Oklahoma City University, J.D.
Community/Personal: Mowdy owns a ranch in Coalgate (Mowdy Ranch).
Also on the ballot:
Associate District Judges
Coal County
Statewide Judges
Oklahoma Supreme Court
Civil Court of Appeals
Cash is the current Current Beaver County ADA. When asked why she is running, Cash said, “It’s been over three decades since there has been a judicial decision or race in our county. We’ve always had an appointed judge. I just believe that right now there’s a swelling of people that want to take back our democracy and actually cast votes for the people that represent them. So I’ve chosen to run for judge to give people a chance to have a choice.” Admitted to the Oklahoma bar in 2009.
Education/Career: Cash earned a JD from the University of Oklahoma. Cash was the former director of OK Agritourism and former marketing director of the OK Wheat Commission. She was the 2019 recipient of the Association of Narcotics Enforcers Region I Prosecutor of the Year award.
Community/Personal: Cash is a self-proclaimed conservative Christian and is proud to stand with law enforcement. She describes herself as a constitutionalist and an advocate of law and order and upholding constitutional rights, claiming she is committed to firm, fair enforcement of the law.
Election website: https://www.cashforjudge2022.com/
Also on the ballot:
Statewide Judges
Oklahoma Supreme Court
Civil Court of Appeals
Judge Lafferty currently serves as Blaine County associate judge and is seeking re-election. Judge Lafferty is responsible for criminal and juvenile dockets. Lafferty is a former ADA in Blaine County. Lafferty also has experience in private practice in Watonga. Admitted to the Oklahoma bar in 2004.
Education/Career: Jenna Brown challenged Judge Lafferty’s candidacy eligibility arguing that Lafferty did not reside in Blaine County. The election board voted 3-0 in favor of Lafferty allowing the associate judge to seek re-election.
Community/Personal: Lafferty and her husband own homes in Watonga and Yukon and split time between the two although she remains registered to vote in Blaine County.
Also on the ballot:
Statewide Judges
Oklahoma Supreme Court
Civil Court of Appeals
Rogers is currently a Special Judge in Bryan County. Rogers formerly practiced at Burrage Law Firm in Durant which specializes in catastrophic injury and death cases across the United States, but also handles a wide range of transactional and general litigation issues locally in Oklahoma. Admitted to the Oklahoma Bar in 2008.
Also on the ballot:
Statewide Judges
Oklahoma Supreme Court
Civil Court of Appeals
Judge Hughey is the sitting associate judge for Canadian County and has held the seat since 2006. Judge Hughey ran unopposed in 2010 and 2014 elections for associate judge. Admitted to the Oklahoma bar in 1985.
Education/Career: Judge Hughley received both his BBA (1982) and J.D. (1985) from the University of Oklahoma. Before joining the court, Hughey worked at the law offices of John Wheatley & Associates and later Hughey & Parker in El Reno, Oklahoma.
Community/Personal: Judge Hughely is committed to education; Hughley created a truancy program at the Canadian County Justice Center. Hugh has served on the El Reno Public School Foundation and the Board of Directors for the El Reno Chamber of Commerce. Born and raised in Canadian county, Judge Hughley resides in El Reno, Oklahoma.
Election website: https://www.hughey4judge.com/
Also on the ballot:
Statewide Judges
Oklahoma Supreme Court
Civil Court of Appeals
Hunnicutt is a current solo practitioner with Hunnicutt Legal in Ardmore specializing in criminal defense, family law and DHS defense. Hunnicutt was a former police officer and ADA in Ardmore. Admitted to the Oklahoma bar in 2017.
Education/Career: Hunnicutt earned a JD from University of Oklahoma. During law school, Hunnicutt was on the Dean’s list all three years, was initiated into Phi Delta Phi honors society, Order of Solicitors, and was chosen to work with the UN in Columbia and on Human Rights projects in Africa
Community/Personal: Hunnicutt has served on the advisory board for the Oklahoma Family Violence shelter, sponsors at-risk kids in youth sports, is active with Springer Schools, was a former president of the Fraternal Order of Police, sits on the Drug Court advisory board, and is an active member at St. Mary Catholic Church in Ardmore.
Election website: https://hunnicuttcampaign2022.com/
Also on the ballot:
Statewide Judges
Oklahoma Supreme Court
Civil Court of Appeals
A Governor Stitt appointee, Judge Stanley was sworn in as associate district judge for Cleveland county in 2020, following the retirement of Judge Stephen Bonner. Stanley is a former ADA for Cleveland County.
Also on the ballot:
District Judges
District 21
Statewide Judges
Oklahoma Supreme Court
Civil Court of Appeals
Trail is an attorney in Atoka focusing on criminal defense and government practice. He was admitted to the bar in 2015.
Also on the ballot:
District Judges
District 25
Statewide Judges
Oklahoma Supreme Court
Civil Court of Appeals
McClain has been serving as ADA in Garvin County under Greg Mashburn for the last 8 years. She previously worked in private practice for 20 years focusing on civil litigation, handling personal injury, small claims, civil rights litigation, appellate litigation, workers comp, administrative law practice, along with work in criminal court, probate, guardianship, and family law. Admitted to the Oklahoma bar in 1992.
Education/Career: McClain graduated from Pauls Valley High School in 1982. She studied physical education and recreation as an undergraduate student and earned a master’s degree in recreation administration from North Carolina before going to the University of Oklahoma to earn her J.D. in 1992. Laura’s proudest accomplishments is creating and managing Garvin County’s Graduated Sanctions Program, which works with at-risk youth to help them before they become entangled in the criminal court system.
Community/Personal: McClain is a member of the First United Methodist Church in Pauls Valley, the Crusaders Sunday School Class, the Oklahoma Bar Association, the Garvin County Bar Association and the Oklahoma District Attorneys Association. McClain supports the Pauls Valley Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) and the Samaritans.
Election website: http://lauramcclainforjudge.com/
Additional resource: Pauls Valley Daily Democrat
Also on the ballot:
District Judges
District 21
Statewide Judges
Oklahoma Supreme Court
Civil Court of Appeals
Nicholson was appointed by Governor Stitt in November of 2021 as Latimer County Associate District Judge. Nicholson is a former child support enforcement attorney for District 16’s district attorney’s office as well as a former first ADA for Latimer and LeFlore Counties from 2015 - 2021. Admitted to the Oklahoma bar in 1998.
Education/Career: Nicholson earned a JD from University of Oklahoma in 1998. Nicholson was named Regional Prosecutor of the Year by the District Attorney’s Council, and in 2016 was named Regional Prosecutor of the Year by the Association of the Oklahoma Narcotic Enforcers.
Also on the ballot:
Statewide Judges
Oklahoma Supreme Court
Civil Court of Appeals
Judge Gray is the sitting Associate District Judge in McClain county. Judge Gray handles all probates, quiet title matters, juvenile cases (both deprived and delinquent), divorces and custody cases, adoptions, guardianships and all miscellaneous civil cases
Education/Career: Gray graduated from Purcell High School in 1972, after which he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Oklahoma in 1977. Gray worked various jobs after graduating, including a position in the Department of Human Services Food Stamp Division, where he developed an interest in law. He received his J.D. from Oklahoma City University in 1982. After graduating, Gray worked as ADA for Cleveland, McClain and Garvin Counties for two years before entering private practice as a defense attorney.
Community/Personal: Born and raised in Purcell, Oklahoma.
Also on the ballot:
Statewide Judges
Oklahoma Supreme Court
Civil Court of Appeals
Ragland is a family law attorney in Idabel with over 17 years of legal experience and specializes in cases dealing with family and criminal law. According to the Secretary of State website, the law firm’s PLLC status is canceled. Ragland receives positive online reviews from clients. Admitted to the Oklahoma bar in 1995.
Win
Also on the ballot:
District Judges
District 21
Statewide Judges
Oklahoma Supreme Court
Civil Court of Appeals
Loge is a former Muskogee County District Attorney. Loge resigned from elected office at the end of September 2021 to accept a Governor Stitt appointment as special judge of Muskogee County following the retirement of the Hon. Weldon Stout. Admitted to the Oklahoma bar in 1994.
Education/Career: Lorge obtained a BS from University of the Ozarks in 1990 and a JD from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1994.
Also on the ballot:
Statewide Judges
Oklahoma Supreme Court
Civil Court of Appeals
Singleton is currently in private practice as a defense attorney and has been working as such since 2016. Singleton is a former ADA in Oklahoma County, prosecuting homicides and other violent crimes. Admitted to the Oklahoma bar in 2011.
Education/Career: Singleton obtained her JD from the University of Oregon School of Law in 2011, Certificate in Criminal Law Practice; Master of Science in Educational Psychology, University of Nevada-Reno in 2007; and a Bachelor of Arts Psychology, University of Central Oklahoma in 2005. After law school, Angela volunteered at the Oklahoma County DA office and then was hired as ADA until she opened her own practice in 2016 as a criminal defense attorney.. "Every person should be able to walk into a courtroom and know that they will be treated fairly. That the Court will be prepared, will follow the law, and treat all parties with respect."
Community/Personal: Born and raised in Oklahoma City.
Memberships: Oklahoma Bar Association US Federal Court for the Western District, Oklahoma County Bar Association, Oklahoma Criminal Defense Lawyers Association,National Trial Lawyers, The American Society of Legal Advocates
Election Website: https://www.singletonforjudge.com/
Also on the ballot:
District Judges
District 7
Statewide Judges
Oklahoma Supreme Court
Civil Court of Appeals
Whalen currently is in private practice in Miami, OK and has been practicing law since 2018, specializing in: personal injury, wrongful death, criminal and family law. Whalen is a partner at Doney & Whalen Law.
Education/Career: Whalen graduated from Miami high school and studied Criminology at University of Oklahoma, receiving his BA in 2007. Whalen went on to earn a JD from University of Tulsa School of Law in 2012. Whalen is a former solo practitioner before joining Doney & Whalen. Member of Quapaw Nation Bar Association.
Also on the ballot:
Statewide Judges
Oklahoma Supreme Court
Civil Court of Appeals
Waters is currently in private practice in Sallisaw. Waters is a former associate judge of the 15th District Court in Oklahoma. He was elected on November 4, 2014, for a term that expired on January 13, 2019. Waters was an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma when he was elected as a judge. Waters previously worked in the Western District of Arkansas, and as an attorney in private practice. Admitted to the Oklahoma bar in 2003. Waters was quoted in the Sequoyah County Times as saying, ”The constitutions of the United States and the State of Oklahoma will be guides in presiding over cases. I will ensure that the rule of law is met and no one is denied their basic rights that have been the bedrock of our nation.”
Education/Career: Waters earned a BA from Oklahoma State University and a Juris Doctorate from University of Tulsa College of Law in 2002.
Also on the ballot:
Statewide Judges
Oklahoma Supreme Court
Civil Court of Appeals
Wheeler is currently an associate attorney at Hammond, Archer & Kee, P.L.L.C. in Duncan. A petition was filed earlier this year, challenging Lawerence's candidacy eligibility to seek Assistant Judge in Stephens County. Stephens was allowed to amend his confidential declaration of candidacy request form to remain a candidate for associate district judge in Stephens County. Wheeler is a former Assistant City Attorney for the City of Duncan. Also served as a Municipal judge for the City of Ryan and a judicial law clerk for Muskogee County Courthouse. Admitted to the Oklahoma bar in 2012.
Education/Career: Wheeler attended St. Gregory’s University (Business Management); BA in Business Management from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2007; MBA from University of Oklahoma – Price College of Business in 2011; and J.D. from University of Oklahoma College of Law in 2011.
Community/Personal: Wheeler volunteers as court appointed attorney for children in DHS custody, the elderly and those with mental impairments; also volunteers at Legal Aid Clinics. He serves on the board of directors for both Gabriel’s House Foundation as well as the Simmons Center and is involved with Kiwanis and Rotary Club. Wheeler is a self-proclaimed Constitutional advocate. He states his priorities are to defend our Constitutional rights, stand with law enforcement, protect the right to life, protect the Second Amendment, protect the most vulnerable, and oppose judicial activism.
Endorsements: Mayor Ritchie Dennington (Duncan), Dr. Stacie Elfrink (Duncan), Dr. Lance Minson, Owner of Minson Veterinary Hospital (Duncan), and Natalie Pettijohn, Owner of Wichita West Design + Build (Marlow)
Election website: https://www.wheelerforjudge.com/
Also on the ballot:
District Judges
District 5
Statewide Judges
Oklahoma Supreme Court
Civil Court of Appeals
Gatlin is the current ADA for Washita-Custer County, OK. Gatlin formerly worked in private practice at Cordell Law Firm which specializes in family law. Admitted to the Oklahoma bar in 2007.
Education/Career: University of Oklahoma, J.D., 2007. Gatlin has experience working for Oklahoma Child Support Services and in working for the Custer County DA’s Office, specializing in sex crimes, child victim crimes, domestic violence and juvenile law. She sits on the teams for both the Washita-Custer County Treatment Court and the Custer-Washita County Family Treatment Court, and serves as a member of the area Child Protection Team and the Coordinated Community Response Team.
Personal/Community: She is a member of the First Baptist Church of Cordell where she has served on several committees and is a member of the praise team, regularly helping lead the church’s music service. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Cordell Chamber of Commerce and is currently beginning her second term as President of the Board.
Also on the ballot:
Statewide Judges
Oklahoma Supreme Court
Civil Court of Appeals
Judge Winchester was appointed to the Oklahoma Supreme Court by Governor Frank Keating on January 4, 2000. He was retained by voters in 2002, 2004, 2010, and 2016.
Key Rulings:
Education/Career: Winchester received his B.A. from the University of Oklahoma and his J.D. from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1977. Judge Winchester was an attorney in private practice from 1977 to 1983, and a judge for Oklahoma's Sixth District from 1983 to 1997. In 1997, Winchester became a U.S. Administrative Law Judge where he served until 2000 when he was appointed to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Winchester was awarded the Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association's Outstanding State Trial Court Judge award in 1986. He was an executive board member of the Oklahoma Judicial Conference from 1992 to 1996, and was the conference's president in 1995.
Justice Combs assumed office in 2010. His current term ends on January 8, 2023.
Combs is running for re-election for judge of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. He is on the ballot in the retention election on November 8, 2022.
Combs was appointed to the Oklahoma Supreme Court by Governor Brad Henry in November 2010.. Combs was retained by voters in 2012 to finish the unexpired term of his predecessor.
Education/Career: Justice Combs received his BA from the University of Oklahoma in 1973 and his J.D. from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1976. Combs was appointed to the Oklahoma Supreme Court in 2010, and served as chief justice from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2018. He served as a judge in Oklahoma's 23rd District from 2002 to 2010, and as a special judge in District 23 from 1995 to 2002. Combs was an attorney in private practice from 1977 to 1995, and was the Assistant State Attorney General to State Attorney General Larry Derryberry from 1976 to 1977.
Key Decisions:
Justice Rowe was appointed to the Oklahoma Supreme Court by Governor Stitt on November 20, 2019, to succeed Justice Patrick Wyrick.
In 2012, Justice Rowe was a Republican candidate who sought election to the U.S. House to represent the 2nd Congressional District of Oklahoma. Justice Rowe was defeated in the Republican primary. Justice Rowe was elected as the mayor of Tishomingo, Oklahoma in 1994, at the age of 18, becoming one of the youngest mayors in the country at the time. Rowe served two terms as mayor.
Education/Career: Justice Rowe earned his B.A. with honors from East Central University in 1998 and his J.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, where he was named a Lee B. Thompson Scholar in 2001. At the time of his supreme court appointment, Rowe was district judge of the Chickasaw Nation District Court. From 2005 to 2011, Rowe was special judge of the Chickasaw Nation District Court. Rowe began practicing law as an attorney in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, in 2001. Rowe is a former district director for U.S. Representative Wes Watkins.
Key decisions:
Justice Kuehn joined the Oklahoma Supreme Court when she was appointed by Governor Kevin Stitt on July 26, 2021, to succeed Justice Tom Colbert.
Education/Career: Justice Kuehn received a B.S. in political science from Oklahoma State University, and a J.D. from the University of Tulsa College of Law. Prior to joining the court, Justice Kuehn worked as an ADA for nearly a decade. Kuehn also worked as an adjunct professor at the University of Tulsa. Kuehn also served as an associate judge for Tulsa County in Oklahoma's District 14, from 2006 to 2017.
Key Decisions:
Judge Fischer was appointed to the court of civil appeals in May 2006 by Governor Brad Henry.
Education/Career: Fischer received his BA and his master's degree in English literature from the University of Oklahoma. Fischer received his J.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. From 1976 until 1980, Judge Fischer served as an assistant attorney general. Fischer was in private practice from 1980 to 2006.
In Judge Fischer’s published opinions, Fischer appears to rely on the evidentiary evidence provided by the lower courts and remands to the lower courts when proper with clear guidance.
Judge Prince was appointed by Governor Stitt on December 18, 2020, to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Kenneth Buettner.
Education/Career: Prince earned his B.S. in Political Science from Southern Arkansas University in 1979 and his JD from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1982. Judge Prince was appointed by three prior governors to the Oklahoma State Election Board, where he served as a member from 1999 to 2012. Prince was a member of the Standards Board of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission from 2009 to 2012.
Prince served as a District Judge for Oklahoma County until his appellate court appointment in 2020. As a district court judge, Prince presided over more than ninety-five civil and criminal jury trials. During his service as a District Judge, Prince was appointed by the Oklahoma Supreme Court to serve as the Presiding Judge for the State Multi-County Grand Jury from 2016 to 2018. Judge Prince was elected by his colleagues in Oklahoma and Canadian Counties to serve as the Vice-Presiding Judge for the Seventh Judicial Administrative District from 2016 to 2018. Prince also was elected to serve as the Presiding Administrative Judge for Oklahoma and Canadian Counties for the year 2019. Prior to becoming a District Judge, Prince practiced law for 29 years in Oklahoma.
Judge Hixon was appointed to the appellate court on March 10, 2020, by Governor Stitt to replace Jerry Goodman.
Education/Career: Judge Hixon earned her B.A. from Oklahoma State University in1996, a M.A. from Oklahoma State University in 1997 and a J.D. from the University of Oklahoma in 2002. Prior to joining the bench, Hixon was a partner at the Steidley & Neal law firm. Hixon’s focus at the firm was legal research and writing, insurance, product liability, employment law and general civil litigation.
Published decisions authored by Hixon indicate a strong reliance on evidentiary record established by the lower courts.
Additional resources: Issuu.com
Judge Swinton was appointed to this court on September 14, 2016, by Governor Mary Fallin to succeed retired Judge William Hetherington.
Judge Swinton was previously an Oklahoma district court judge for Oklahoma County (District 7). Swinton joined the court in 1996 as a special judge and was elected as a district judge in 2002. Judge Swinton was re-elected in 2014, after running unopposed. Swinton’s district term was set to expire in January 2019, however Swinton was appointed to the court of civil appeals in 2016.
Education/Career: Swinton received her BA in political science from Oklahoma State University in 1982 and her J.D. from Georgia State University College of Law in 1991.
Swinton currently teaches trial practice and pretrial litigation as an adjunct professor at the Oklahoma City University School of Law. Prior to joining the court, Swinton worked for a year as a trial lawyer with David W. Lee and Associates, handling family law and federal civil rights cases. Swinton started her legal career with Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison and Lewis, where she spent four years practicing general civil and family law.
Key decisions/considerations: Judge Swinton was a Justice Alma Wilson Seeworth Academy board member which in 2021, was the subject of Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater’s investigation into fraud and embezzlement. As a district judge, Swinton ruled in 2015, that for years, DHS had charged fathers in paternity cases too much in interest for back child support judgments.
Judge Blackwell was appointed by Governor Stitt on July 21, 2021, to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of P. Thomas Thornbrugh.
Education/Career: Blackwell received both his BA from the University of Oklahoma and his J.D. from the Oklahoma University Law School. Blackwell formerly served as a federal judicial clerk to Judge Michael Mihm of the Central District of Illinois. From there, Blackwell joined the United States Department of Justice as a trial attorney in Washington, D.C., where he defended the United States and numerous federal agencies in complex environmental litigation matters.
Blackwell returned to Oklahoma in 2008, and worked in the land department of a local oil and gas company and then as head of appellate litigation at Ball & Morse in Oklahoma City. Immediately prior to my appointment, Blackwell served on the staff of Judge Bay Mitchell (Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals in Oklahoma City).
Based upon published opinions, Blackwell bases decision to affirm or vacate a decision on to the evidence of record created by the lower courts. No published remands were found.
