The United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma (in case citations, W.D. Okla. or W.D. Ok.) 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).
The District was established on June 16, 1906 and became operational on November 16, 1907 with Oklahoma achieving statehood.
Organization of the court
Senator Lankford Speaks on Behalf of Scott Palk's US District Court Judicial Nomination - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) speaks on behalf of Scott Palk's nomination to be US District Court Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma (October 26, 2017).
The United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma is one of three federal judicial districts in Oklahoma. Court for the District is held at Lawton and Oklahoma City.
Enid and Ponca City Division comprises the following counties: Alfalfa, Garfield, Grant, Kay, Noble, and Payne.
Lawton and Mangum Division comprises the following counties: Beckham, Caddo, Comanche, Cotton, Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Jefferson, Kiowa, Stephens, Tillman, and Washita.
Oklahoma City, Guthrie, Chickasha, Pauls Valley, and Shawnee Division comprises the following counties: Blaine, Canadian, Cleveland, Garvin, Grady, Kingfisher, Lincoln, Logan, McClain, Oklahoma, and Pottawatomie.
Woodward Division comprises the following counties: Beaver, Cimarron, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Harper, Major, Roger Mills, Texas, Woods, and Woodward.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Oklahoma represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. The current Acting US Attorney is Mark A. Yancey.
Current judges
Vacancies and pending nominations
Former judges
Chief judges
Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court, and preside over any panel on which they serve unless circuit judges are also on the panel. 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
- Courts of Oklahoma
- List of United States federal courthouses in Oklahoma
Notes
External links
- United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma Official Website
- United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma Official Website
