Chief Justice John Kane, IV was sworn in as Chief by Justice Darby. Chief Justice Kane is the great-grandson of a member of Oklahoma’s first Supreme Court: Chief Justice Matthew John Kane I, whose portrait hangs in the court. The Chief’s family was present for the ceremony.
Chief Justice John Kane administered the oath of office to Governor Kevin Stitt on January 9, 2023. The Chief Justice also sworn in all elected officials that day.
Former Chief Justice Darby received a medal of service from Senior Justice Kauger. Thank you, Justice Darby for your service.
The Court celebrated the work of John Morris Williams -outgoing OBA Executive Director at a luncheon December 5th.
Chief Justice Richard Darby announced this week that the Oklahoma Supreme Court elected M. John Kane, IV, to serve as Chief Justice for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2023. Dustin P. Rowe was elected to serve as Vice Chief Justice for the same biennium.
Governor Kevin Stitt appointed Justice Kane to the state’s highest court in 2019, where he has served as Vice Chief Justice since January, 2021. He previously served as district judge in Osage County from 2005 until his appointment to the Supreme Court in September, 2019.
Justice Rowe was appointed to the Oklahoma Supreme Court in November, 2019, by Governor Stitt. Prior to his appellate appointment, Rowe, of Tishomingo, had been in private practice since 2001 and had been serving as a judge with the Chickasaw Nation.
The Oklahoma Constitution provides that the Justices of the Supreme Court shall “choose from among their members a Chief Justice and a Vice Chief Justice,”
Oklahoma voters retained Justices Combs, Winchester, Rowe, and Kuehn for new terms on November 8, 2022.
Justices Combs, Winchester, and Rowe will serve a six-year term. Justice Kuehn, appointed by the Governor on the retirement of Justice Tom Colbert, will finish his term in 2024. In 2024, she will be on the retention ballot for a new six-year term.
On September 29, 2022, the Chief Justice conducted the swearing-in ceremony for the State’s newest lawyers with the entirety of the Court present. Congratulations to our new members.
