John Russell (Oklahoma)

Northern District of Oklahoma
	Tenth Circuit
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

Nomination Tracker
Nominee Information
	Name: John Russell
	Court: United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
Progress
	Confirmed 56 days after nomination.
	Nominated: October 24, 2023
	ABA Rating: Well Qualified
	Questionnaire: Questionnaire
	Hearing: November 15, 2023
	Hearing Transcript: Hearing Transcript
	QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
	Reported: December 7, 2023
	Confirmed: December 19, 2023
	Vote: Voice vote

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

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

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United 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, President Joe Biden (D) announced his intent to nominate Russell to the United 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.

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

Russell was nominated to replace Judge John Dowdell, who assumed senior status on June 21, 2021.^[2]

The American Bar Association (ABA) rated Russell well 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 the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
1991-1993: Trial attorney
1988-1991: Associate^[4]

About the court

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.

To read opinions published by this court, click here.

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.