Oklahoma judicial elections, 2016
Seven seats on Oklahoma's state-level courts were up for retention elections on November 8, 2016. Judges who were retained to any of Oklahoma's three appellate courts won either a full six-year term or the unexpired remainder of his or her predecessor's term.
On the Oklahoma Supreme Court, the state's court of last resort for civil cases, Justice James R. Winchester and Justice Douglas L. Combs faced retention. On the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, the state's court of last resort for criminal cases, Judges Rob Hudson and Carlene Clancy Smith faced retention.
On the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals—the state's intermediate appellate court—Judges John Fischer, Larry Joplin, and P. Thomas Thornbrugh faced retention in the 2016 election.
Judges who faced retention
Supreme Court
■ James R. Winchester
■ Douglas L. Combs
Court of Criminal Appeals
■ Rob Hudson
■ Carlene Clancy Smith
Court of Civil Appeals
■ John Fischer
■ Larry Joplin
■ P. Thomas Thornbrugh
Election results
November 8 general election
Selection
- See also: Judicial selection in Oklahoma
Judges of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, and the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals stand for retention by voters after six-year terms or after initial terms of at least one year following appointment. In these elections, judges do not compete against another candidate, but voters are given a "yes" or "no" choice whether to keep the justice in office for another term. The retention elections are held on the day of the general election.[1]
State profile
| Demographic data for Oklahoma | ||
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 3,907,414 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 68,595 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 73.1% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 7.2% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 1.9% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 7.3% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 7.8% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 9.6% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 86.9% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 24.1% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $46,879 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 19.7% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Oklahoma. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
- See also: Presidential voting trends in Oklahoma
Oklahoma voted Republican in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
More Oklahoma coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in Oklahoma
- United States congressional delegations from Oklahoma
- Public policy in Oklahoma
- Endorsers in Oklahoma
- Oklahoma fact checks
- More...
Recent news
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See also
External links
Footnotes
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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