Oklahoma State Courts Network

Oklahoma Judicial Nominating Commission

Eligibility Requirements for Judicial Appointment

(Attorney General’s Opinion No. 84-9 - February 14, 1984)

Supreme Court Justice and Court of Criminal Appeals Judge

To be appointed to the office of Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court or Judge of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, an individual must be:

at least 30 years old;
a qualified elector of the judicial district applicable, as opposed to a registered voter, for one year immediately prior to his or her appointment; and
a licensed practicing attorney or judge of a court of record, or both, in Oklahoma for five years preceding his/her appointment.

Court of Civil Appeals Judge and District Judge

To be appointed to the office of Judge of the Court of Civil Appeals or District Judge, an individual must be:

a registered voter of the respective judicial district at the time he/she takes the oath of office and assumes the duties of office; and
a licensed practicing attorney or judge of a court of record or both, in Oklahoma for four years preceding his/her appointment.

Associate District Judge

To be appointed to the office of Associate District Judge, an individual must be:

a registered voter of the respective judicial district at the time he/she takes the oath of office and assumes the duties of office; and
a licensed practicing attorney or judge of a court of record, or both, in Oklahoma for two years preceding his/her appointment.

Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Court Judge

There is no residency requirement whatsoever imposed upon appointees to the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Court, although, to be properly appointed, one must have been licensed to practice law in the State of Oklahoma for a period of not less than five years prior to appointment.

Judgeships of the Workers’ Compensation Court are the only positions to which a non‑resident of the State of Oklahoma may be appointed and serve.