Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals
Oklahoma City · A court of last resort in Oklahoma.
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.
Current bench verified against the court’s official roster, 2026-07-02.
Current judges
Former judges
| Judge | Years |
|---|---|
| Clancy Smith | 2010 |
| Arlene Johnson | 2005 |
| Stephen E. Lile | 1999–2005 |
| Charles S. Chapel | 1993–2010 |
| Rita M. Strubhar | 1993–2004 |
| Charles A. Johnson | 1989 |
| 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: Current roster: Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals (okcca.net) — Judges and CourtListener / Free Law Project (bulk data); selection method from the National Center for State Courts. Data as of 2026-07-02 (official roster); historical bench 2026-03-31 (CourtListener bulk snapshot). Verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).