Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals
The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals is the court of last resort for criminal cases in Oklahoma. Its judges are chosen by gubernatorial appointment from a nominating commission, followed by retention elections. This page lists every judge to serve on the court, current and former, with when they joined the bench and whom they succeeded.
| Judge | Since |
|---|---|
| Charles A. Johnson | 1989 |
| Gary Leonard Lumpkin | 1989 |
| Arlene Johnson | 2005 |
| David B. Lewis | 2005 |
| Clancy Smith | 2010 |
| Judge | Years |
|---|---|
| Stephen E. Lile | 1999–2005 |
| Charles S. Chapel | 1993–2010 |
| Rita M. Strubhar | 1993–2004 |
| James F. Lane | 1989–1998 |
| Ed Parks Jr. | 1984–1992 |
| Tom R. Cornish | 1977–1984 |
| Charles Fred Bliss Jr. | 1972–1977 |
| Robert D. Simms | 1971–1971 |
| Thomas Brett | 1965–1993 |
| Joe E. Johnson ?? Nothing coming up under this name | 1963–1965 |
| Hez J. Bussey | 1961–1989 |
| Kirksey McCord Nix | 1957–1971 |
| John C. Powell | 1949–1961 |
| John Anderson Brett | 1947–1963 |
| Dick Sterling Jones | 1940–1957 |
| Bert B. Barefoot | 1936–1949 |
| D A. Richardson | 1910–1911 |
| Thomas Henchion Doyle | 1909–1947 |
How a judge reaches this court. Judges of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals are appointed by the governor to 6-year terms and then face yes-or-no retention elections. Oklahoma’s court of last resort for criminal matters; uses the same merit-selection-with-retention method as the Supreme Court of Oklahoma. Selection methods vary by jurisdiction and have changed over time; this page reflects the court’s current method (source: National Center for State Courts). Open any judge to see their tenure and whom they succeeded.
Source: CourtListener / Free Law Project; selection method from the National Center for State Courts. Data last verified 2026-06-30. Verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).