As two former U.S. Attorneys for the Northern and Eastern Districts of Oklahoma, we agree with Sens. James Lankford and Markwayne Mullin in supporting Sara Hill and John Russell to serve as judges for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District.
Their nominations are critical for our state. Currently, the Northern District has only one full-time district judge.
The U.S. Constitution grants every American the right to a speedy trial. The Northern District has a backlog of over 500 criminal cases, and it is not able to timely hear civil cases because of the massive backlog.
In 2019, there were 227 criminal cases filed in the Northern District. In 2020, 240 were filed. After the McGirt decision, there were 400 cases filed in 2021. Between 2020 and 2021, there was a 66% increase in criminal cases filed, and an additional 27.8% increase between 2021 and 2022.
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Not having more full-time judges means justice may be delayed for Oklahomans who are victims of crime as well as for criminal defendants who want their Constitutionally guaranteed day in court.
Hill and Russell will serve our nation well as judges for the Northern District. They have dedicated themselves to their profession and to their communities. We know this from our personal experience of having worked with them for years.
Throughout her career, Hill has proven to be an astute attorney and is well-respected in the Oklahoma legal community. Likewise, Russell’s extensive experience in the public and private sectors has led to him being one of the top litigators in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma needs more federal judges. Fortunately, our U.S. senators helped find two qualified nominees. We have no doubt that Hill and Russell will serve our nation well, respect the rule of law and uphold their oaths to “faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all duties incumbent upon (them) as a judge under the Constitution and laws of the United States.”
Trent Shores served as the U.S. attorney for the Northern District from September 2017 to March 2021. Brian J. Kuester served as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District from September 2017 to February 2021. Both are members of the Republican Party and appointed by President Donald Trump for their positions as U.S. attorney.
Editor’s Note: Hill’s confirmation is opposed by Gov. Kevin Stitt, citing her service as the former attorney general for the Cherokee Nation. Oklahoma Sen. Nathan Dahm as chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party is campaigning against her nomination. If confirmed, Hill would be the first Indigenous woman to be appointed to the federal bench in Oklahoma and the 8th Native American to serve as U.S. judge in the nation’s history.
Trent Shores served as the U.S. attorney for the Northern District from September 2017 to March 2021. Brian J. Kuester served as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District from September 2017 to February 2021. Both are members of the Republican Party and appointed by President Donald Trump for their positions as U.S. attorney.
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