Supreme Court Judicial District 9
Richard Darby currently serves as Chief Justice for the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Appointed by Governor Mary Fallin in April of 2018, Justice Darby serves the Court for District Nine which is located in southwest Oklahoma and reaches up to and includes Canadian County. He also is a member of the Appellate Division of the Oklahoma Court on the Judiciary. Justice Darby previously was district judge a total of twenty three years for the Third Judicial District which includes five counties surrounding Altus. First as Special Judge for four years, then Associate District Judge for four years, Darby has now served the Oklahoma judicial branch for over thirty years.
Darby received his law degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1984, and practiced law in Altus prior to beginning his judicial career. Before law school Justice Darby graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University where he received a B.A. in political science. As a child, Darby worked for the family furniture store in Duke, started by his grandfather in 1906. His fondest memories are trips to Altus after work for nine holes of golf with his dad and two older brothers, followed by dinner at their favorite restaurant.
Darby is married to Dr. Dana Darby who is head of school for Altus Christian Academy. They are proud parents of two adult sons, Ben and Jonathan. Darby and his wife both grew up in Duke, Oklahoma.
He is a prior President of the Altus Rotary Club, Rotarian of the Year, and Oklahoma Court Reporters Association Judge of the Year.
