John Heil

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John Heil III
Image of John Heil III

Nonpartisan

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma
Tenure

2020 - Present

Years in position

4

United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
Tenure

2020 - Present

Years in position

4

United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
Tenure

2020 - Present

Years in position

4

Education

Bachelor's

Oklahoma State University, 1990

Law

University of Tulsa College of Law, 1994

Personal
Birthplace
Lima, Ohio

John F. Heil III is a judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Eastern District of Oklahoma, and Western District of Oklahoma. He was nominated by President Donald Trump (R) on December 2, 2019. The U.S. Senate confirmed Heil on May 20, 2020, by a vote of 75-17. To see a full list of judges appointed by Donald Trump, click here.

Heil became chief judge of the Northern District of Oklahoma in 2021.[1]

The United States District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Oklahoma are three of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the courts, click here.

Heil was a shareholder and director at Hall, Estill, Hardwick, Gable, Golden & Nelson, P.C. in Tulsa, Oklahoma, from 2000 to 2020.

Judicial nominations and appointments

United States District Courts for the Northern, Eastern and Western Districts of Oklahoma (2020-present)

See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump

On December 2, 2019, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Heil to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Eastern District of Oklahoma, and Western District of Oklahoma.[2] He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 20, 2020, on a 75-17 vote.[3] Heil received commission on May 27, 2020. He became chief judge of the Northern District of Oklahoma in 2021.[1] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.

Nomination Tracker
Fedbadgesmall.png
Nominee Information
Name: John Heil
Court: United States District Courts for the Northern, Eastern and Western Districts of Oklahoma
Progress
Confirmed 170 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: December 2, 2019
ApprovedAABA Rating: Unanimously well qualified
Questionnaire: Questionnaire
ApprovedAHearing: January 8, 2020
QFRs: QFRs (Hover over QFRs to read more)
ApprovedAReported: March 12, 2020 
ApprovedAConfirmed: May 20, 2020
ApprovedAVote: 75-17

Confirmation vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed Heil on May 20, 2020, on a vote of 75-17.[3] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.

John Heil confirmation vote (May 20, 2020)
Party Yea Nay No vote
Electiondot.png Democratic 25 17 3
Ends.png Republican 49 0 4
Grey.png Independent 1 0 1
Total 75 17 8
Change in Senate rules
See also:
Filibuster and reconciliation in the United States Congress
Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump
United States federal courts

Heil was confirmed to a U.S. District Court under a new precedent the Senate established.

On April 3, 2019, the U.S. Senate voted 51-48 in favor of a change to chamber precedent lowering the maximum time allowed for debate on executive nominees to posts below the Cabinet level and on nominees to district court judgeships from 30 hours after invoking cloture to two.[4]

The change was passed under a procedure, often referred to as the nuclear option, that requires 51 votes rather than 60.[5]

It was the third use of the nuclear option in Senate history. In 2013, it was used to eliminate the 60-vote threshold to confirm presidential nominees, except those to the Supreme Court. In 2017, it was used to eliminate the 60-vote threshold required to confirm Supreme Court nominees.[6] For more, see Filibuster and reconciliation in the United States Congress.


Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

Heil had his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 8, 2020.[7] Heil was reported to the full Senate on March 12, 2020, after a 16-5 vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee.[8]

Nomination

On November 6, 2019, President Donald Trump (R) announced his intent to nominate Heil to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Eastern District of Oklahoma, and Western District of Oklahoma.[9] The president officially submitted the nomination on December 2, 2019.[2]

The nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2020.[2] The president officially renominated Heil on January 6.[3]

Heil was nominated to replace Judge James Payne, who assumed senior status beginning on August 1, 2017.[2]

Oklahoma Senators James Lankford and Jim Inhofe, both Republicans, supported Heil's nomination.

  • Lankford said, "Heil’s work and reputation across Oklahoma has proven he is well-qualified, and I am confident his expertise will serve our nation and Oklahoma well I am grateful John is willing to answer the call to serve, and I look forward to his confirmation in the Senate in the days to come."
  • Inhofe said, "John has handled litigation matters in various state and federal courts, including at the appellate level, throughout the United States and has extensive trial experience, giving him all the tools necessary to excel in this new role. I commend the president on this nomination and urge my colleagues in the Senate to confirm him swiftly."[10]

The American Bar Association unanimously rated Heil well qualified for the position.[11] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.

Early life and education

Heil was born in 1968 in Lima, Ohio. He earned his B.S. in finance from Oklahoma State University in 1990 and his J.D., with honors, from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 1994. During his legal studies, he served as an editor for the Tulsa Law Journal.[9][12][13]

Professional career

Associations

  • Oklahoma Bar Association
  • Tulsa County Bar Association
  • American Inns of Court
  • Former Member, Board of Directors, Leadership Tulsa
  • Former Member, Board of Directors, Eisenhower International School Foundation
  • Former Member, Board of Directors, Crosstown Learning Center[12]

About the court

Eastern District of Oklahoma

Eastern District of Oklahoma
Tenth Circuit
Great seal of the United States.png
Judgeships
Posts: 2
Judges: 2
Vacancies: 0
Judges
Chief: Ronald White
Active judges: John Heil III, Ronald White

Senior judges:
James Payne, Frank Seay


The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma is one of 94 United States district courts. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit based in downtown Denver, Colorado, at the Byron White Federal Courthouse.


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

The jurisdiction of the Eastern District of Oklahoma consists of all the counties in the eastern part of the state of Oklahoma.

Northern District of Oklahoma

Northern District of Oklahoma
Tenth Circuit
OK-ND.gif
Judgeships
Posts: 4
Judges: 4
Vacancies: 0
Judges
Chief: John Heil
Active judges: Gregory Frizzell, John Heil III, Sara Hill, John Russell

Senior judges:
John E. Dowdell, Claire Eagan, Terence Kern, James Payne


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


The Northern District of Oklahoma has original 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 the counties in the northeastern part of the state of Oklahoma.

Western District of Oklahoma

Western District of Oklahoma
Tenth Circuit
OK-WD.gif
Judgeships
Posts: 7
Judges: 7
Vacancies: 0
Judges
Chief: Timothy DeGiusti
Active judges: Timothy DeGiusti, Jodi Dishman, Charles B. Goodwin, John Heil III, Bernard Jones, Scott Palk, Patrick Wyrick

Senior judges:
Wayne Alley, Robin Cauthron, Stephen Friot, Joe Heaton, Timothy D. Leonard, Vicki Miles-LaGrange, James Payne, David Russell


The United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma is one of 94 United States district courts. It operates out of a courthouse in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit based in Denver, Colorado at the Byron White Federal Courthouse.


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

The jurisdiction of the Western District of Oklahoma consists of all the counties in the western part of the state of Oklahoma.

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 the Senate 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 a blue 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.


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Federal Judicial Center, "Heil, John Frederick III," accessed October 11, 2021
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Congress.gov, "PN1313 — John F. Heil III — The Judiciary," accessed December 3, 2019
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Congress.gov, "PN1346 — John F. Heil III — The Judiciary," accessed January 10, 2020
  4. ↑ The Hill, "GOP triggers 'nuclear option' to speed up Trump picks," April 3, 2019
  5. ↑ Axios, "Senate GOP invokes 'nuclear option' to speed up confirmations of Trump nominees," April 3, 2019
  6. ↑ NBC News, "McConnell to use 'nuclear option' to confirm lower-level nominees," April 2, 2019
  7. ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Nominations," January 8, 2020
  8. ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Results of Executive Business Meeting," March 12, 2020
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 WhiteHouse.gov, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Judicial Nominees," November 6, 2019
  10. ↑ James Lankford, United States Senator for Oklahoma, "Senators Lankford, Inhofe Applaud Nomination of Tulsa Attorney to Serve on US District Court," November 6, 2019
  11. ↑ https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/government_affairs_office/webratingchart-trump116.pdf?logActivity=true American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III and Article IV judicial nominees," accessed January 8, 2020]
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Hall Estill, "John F. Heil, III," accessed November 7, 2019
  13. ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Questionnaire for judicial nominees," accessed January 8, 2020

Political offices
Preceded by
- 		United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
2020-Present		 Succeeded by
-
Preceded by
- 		United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma
2020-Present		 Succeeded by
-
Preceded by
- 		United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
2020-Present		 Succeeded by
-




Oklahoma courts

Federal courts:

Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Oklahoma, Northern District of Oklahoma, Western District of Oklahoma • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Oklahoma, Northern District of Oklahoma, Western District of Oklahoma

State courts:

Oklahoma Supreme Court • Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals • Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals • Oklahoma District Courts • Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Court of Existing Claims

State resources:

Courts in Oklahoma • Oklahoma judicial elections • Judicial selection in Oklahoma

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