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John Russell (Oklahoma)

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John Russell

Nonpartisan

United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma

Tenure

2024 - Present

Years in position

Predecessor:John E. Dowdell (Nonpartisan)

Education

Bachelor's

Oklahoma State University, 1985

Law

University of Oklahoma College of Law, 1988

Contact

Official website

John Russell is a judge on theUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma. He was nominated to the court by PresidentJoe Biden (D) on October 24, 2023, and confirmed by theUnited States Senate on December 19, 2023, by voice vote.^[1]^[2]^[3] Russell was one of 235Article III judges nominated by PresidentJoe Biden (D) and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. To see a full list of judges appointed byJoe Biden,click here.

Prior to joining the court, Russell was a shareholder at an Oklahoma law firm.^[4]

TheUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma is one of 94U.S. District Courts. They are the generaltrial courts of theUnited States federal courts. To learn more about the court,click here.

Judicial nominations and appointments

United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma (2024-present)

See also:Federal judges nominated by Joe Biden

On October 18, 2023, PresidentJoe Biden (D) announced his intent to nominate Russell to theUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma.^[4] The president officially nominated Russell on October 24, 2023.^[2] The U.S. Senate confirmed Russell by voice vote on December 19, 2023.^[1] Russell received commission on January 4, 2024.^[3] To read more about the federal nominations process,click here.

Nomination Tracker

Nominee Information
Name: John Russell
Court:United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
Progress
Confirmed 56 days after nomination.
ANominated: October 24, 2023
AABA Rating: Well Qualified
Questionnaire:Questionnaire
AHearing: November 15, 2023
Hearing Transcript:Hearing Transcript
QFRs:(Hover over QFRs to read more)

AReported: December 7, 2023
AConfirmed: December 19, 2023
AVote: Voice vote

Confirmation vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed Russell on December 19, 2023, by voice vote.^[1]

Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

Russell was reported to the full Senate on December 7, 2023, after an 18-3 committee vote.^[5]

Nomination

On October 18, 2023, PresidentJoe Biden (D) announced his intent to nominate John Russell to theUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma. The president officially nominated Russell on October 24, 2023.^[2]

Russell was nominated to replace JudgeJohn Dowdell, who assumedsenior status on June 21, 2021.^[2]

TheAmerican Bar Association (ABA) rated Russellwell qualified.^[6] To read more about ABA ratings,click here.

Biography

Education

Russell earned a bachelor's degree from Oklahoma State University in 1985 and a law degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1988.

Professional career

2024-present: Judge,United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
2015-2024: Shareholder
2002-2014: Private practice
1995-2002: Assistant U.S. attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for theUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
1991-1993: Trial attorney
1988-1991: Associate^[4]

About the court

Northern District of Oklahoma
Tenth Circuit

Judgeships
Posts: 4
Judges: 3
Vacancies: 1
Judges
Chief:John Heil
Active judges:John Heil III,Sara Hill,John Russell Senior judges: John E. Dowdell,Claire Eagan,Gregory Frizzell,Terence Kern,James Payne

TheUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma is one of 94United States district courts. The district operates out of two courthouses inTulsa, Oklahoma. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit based in downtownDenver, Colorado, at the Byron White Federal Courthouse.

The Northern District of Oklahoma hasoriginal jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.

The jurisdiction of the Northern District of Oklahoma consists of all thecounties in the northeastern part of the state ofOklahoma.

To read opinions published by this court, clickhere.

The federal nomination process

Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:

The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by theSenate Judiciary Committee.
The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.

As part of this process, the committee sends ablue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.

After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.

If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.

The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.

If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.