STATE OF OKLAHOMA

1st Session of the 54th Legislature (2013)

SENATE
RESOLUTION 27	By:	Bingman, Johnson (Constance) and Shumate

AS INTRODUCED

A Resolution recognizing and celebrating the careers and accomplishments of certain judges; applauding them for their dedication; thanking them for their service; and directing distribution.

WHEREAS, throughout history, African Americans have played a significant role in every facet of the history and culture of the State of Oklahoma, and continue to do so; and
WHEREAS, Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange, Justice Tom Colbert, Judge David Lewis and Judge Carlos Chappelle through hard work and perseverance have or will become the first African Americans to serve on their respective courts; and
WHEREAS, Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange was the first African American elected Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma in 2008, having been the first African American woman to be sworn in as U.S. attorney for the same court in 1998.  She was also one of the first African American females elected to the Oklahoma State Senate in 1987; and
WHEREAS, appointed by Governor Brad Henry in 2004 as the first African American to serve on the Oklahoma Supreme Court, Justice Tom Colbert made Oklahoma history by becoming the first African American to serve as Chief Justice of the state's highest court, the Oklahoma Supreme Court, and holds the distinction of being the first African American Vice Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court.  He also was the first African American to serve on the Court of Civil Appeals where he was elected to serve as chief judge; and
WHEREAS, appointed by Governor Brad Henry on August 4, 2005, Judge David Lewis was the first African American to serve on the Court of Criminal Appeals for the 5th Judicial District.  He continued to make history when he was sworn in as the first African American to serve as chief judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals, the state's highest court with appellate jurisdiction in criminal cases, on January 23, 2013; and
WHEREAS, appointed district judge for Tulsa County by Governor Brad Henry in 2009 and reelected without opposition in 2010, Judge Carlos Chappelle became the first African American to be appointed a District Judge for Tulsa County.  In September 2011, he was the first African American elected Presiding Judge Elect and in January 2014, he will become the first African American to be Presiding Judge for the 14th Judicial District of the State of Oklahoma, covering Tulsa and Pawnee counties.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 54TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:
THAT the Oklahoma State Senate recognizes and celebrates the careers and accomplishments of Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange, Chief U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma; Justice Tom Colbert, Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court; Judge David Lewis, Chief Judge of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals; and Judge Carlos Chappelle, Chief Judge-Elect of the Tulsa District Courts, and their service as the first African Americans to serve as presiding judge of their respective Courts in the State of Oklahoma.
THAT the Oklahoma State Senate applauds these judges for their dedication and thanks them for their service to the State of Oklahoma.
THAT a copy of this resolution be distributed to Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange, Justice Tom Colbert, Judge David Lewis and Judge Carlos Chappelle.

54-1-1770	JB	5/1/2013 11:28:36 AM