The Judicial Nominating Commission seeks applicants to fill the office of Associate District Judge, Tulsa County. This vacancy is created due to the retirement of the Honorable Clifford Smith, effective May 1, 2025.
To be appointed an Associate District Judge of Tulsa County, an individual must be a registered voter of Tulsa County at the time (s)he takes the oath of office and assumes the duties of the office. Additionally, prior to appointment, the appointee must have a minimum of two years’ experience as a licensed practicing attorney, or as a judge of a court of record, or combination thereof, within the State of Oklahoma.
Application forms may be obtained online at https://okjnc.com or by contacting Gina Antipov at (405) 556-9300. Applications must be submitted to the Chairman of the JNC no later than 5:00 p.m., Friday, June 6, 2025. Applications may be mailed, hand delivered or delivered by third party commercial carrier. If mailed or delivered by third party commercial carrier, they must be postmarked on or before June 6, 2025, to be deemed timely. Applications should be mailed/delivered to:
Jim Bland, Chairman Oklahoma Judicial Nominating Commission c/o Gina Antipov Administrative Office of the Courts 2100 N. Lincoln Blvd., Suite 3 Oklahoma City, OK 73105
The Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) today announced the following individuals have applied for the position of Associate District Judge, Tulsa County, District 14:
Matthew Todd Chesbro Tulsa
Nathan Wayne Smith Tulsa
Guy W. Tucker, Jr. Tulsa
With assistance from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations, the JNC will immediately commence background reviews on these candidates, and interviews will be scheduled as soon as practicable at the conclusion of these background reviews.
The Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) announces the three nominees for the position of Associate District Judge, Office for the Fourteenth Judicial District, Tulsa County. Only three applications were received. Based on a 2016 Attorney General Opinion, the JNC’s role was merely to determine if all three applicants were legally qualified for the position. JNC Members found all three applicants were legally qualified, and no further process will ensue. The JNC submitted to the Governor, on July 10, 2025, the following nominees for this position:
Matthew Todd Chesbro
Nathan Wayne Smith
Guy W. Tucker Jr.
Under Article 7B, Section 4 of the Oklahoma Constitution, the Governor has sixty days to appoint an individual to this position. If he does not do so, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall make the appointment.
