FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September
2, 2011
Governor
Fallin Selects Judge Tom Thornbrugh to Fill Vacancy on Oklahoma Civil Appeals
Court
OKLAHOMA
CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today announced she has selected Judge Tom
Thornbrugh of Tulsa to fill the vacancy on the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals
District Three.
Since
1997, Thornbrugh has served as district court judge for the 14th
Judicial District and currently serves as presiding judge. He has presided
over more than 200 jury trials involving civil and criminal felony matters.
“The
Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals plays an important role in ensuring our court
system provides fair and just treatment for all,” Fallin said. “Judge
Thornbrugh has had a distinguished career in both private practice and on the
bench. I know in his new role on the Court of Civil Appeals Judge
Thornbrugh will be committed to ensuring our citizens receive fair treatment
under the law.”
Before
being appointed to the district court, Thornbrugh spent more than 20 years in
private law practice in Tulsa. He also served as prosecuting attorney for the
city of Bixby and as a municipal court judge for the city of Tulsa.
Thornbrugh also served as a legislative advisor for U.S. Senator Dewey Bartlett.
“I’m
honored that Governor Fallin would appoint me to the Court of Civil Appeals,”
Thornbrugh said. “I share the governor’s commitment to ensuring our
legal system provides fair and equal treatment to all our citizens.”
Thornbrugh
earned dual degrees in speech and political science from Emporia State
University in Emporia, Kan. He earned a law degree from the University of
Tulsa, where he was a member of the Dean’s Honor Roll and Res Nova law
review.
Thornbrugh
is a member of the Oklahoma Judicial Conference, where he serves on the
Conference Executive Board, the president of the Council of Presiding Judges,
and on the conference’s legislative committee. He also is an adjunct
professor at the University of Tulsa and at St. Gregory’s University.
He is married to Dr. Jean Thornbrugh, dean of the College for
Working Adults at St. Gregory’s University. The couple has five adult
children.
