United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
About This Court
Located in northeastern Oklahoma, this federal district court serves 11 counties in the state, including Tulsa County, which serves as the seat of court operations. The court is part of the Tenth Circuit and hears federal civil and criminal matters arising within its geographic boundaries. Tulsa, the primary city of the district, is Oklahoma's second-largest city and serves as a regional hub for commerce and industry in the region.
The Northern District of Oklahoma has a notable history involving litigation related to Native American law, given the significant presence of tribal nations within its jurisdiction. The Supreme Court's 2020 decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma, which held that much of eastern Oklahoma remains an Indian reservation for purposes of federal criminal law, has had a substantial impact on the volume and nature of criminal cases filed in this district.
The court operates under the Local Civil Rules and Local Criminal Rules adopted for the Northern District, which practitioners appearing before the court are expected to follow alongside the Federal Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure.
Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Oklahoma.
Caseload
The court has experienced a significant increase in federal criminal cases following the McGirt v. Oklahoma decision, which shifted jurisdiction over many crimes committed in Indian Country from state to federal courts. Cases involving Native American law, energy, and natural resources litigation are prominent features of the court's docket.
Bar Admission
Attorneys must be admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, which generally requires admission to the Oklahoma State Bar and submission of an application to the clerk's office. Pro hac vice admission is available for attorneys licensed in other jurisdictions under the court's local rules.
Clerk's Office
333 West Fourth Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103
(918) 699-4700
Active Judges 6
| Name | Appointed By | Confirmed | Law School |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Dowdell | Barack Obama | 2012 | University of Tulsa College of Law |
| Claire Eagan | George W. Bush | 2001 | Fordham University School of Law |
| Gregory Frizzell | George W. Bush | 2007 | University of Michigan Law School |
| Sara Hill | Joseph R. Biden | 2023 | University of Tulsa College of Law |
| Terence Kern | William J. Clinton | 1994 | University of Oklahoma College of Law |
| John Russell | Joseph R. Biden | 2023 | University of Oklahoma College of Law |
Local Rules
12 local rules extracted from this court's published rules. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.