Summary
Charles A. Johnson (born 1930/1931) is a former judge of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, serving from 1989 to 2014.
Charles A. Johnson | |
|---|---|
| Judge of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals | |
| In office October 31, 1989 – August 1, 2014 | |
| Appointed by | Henry Bellmon |
| Preceded by | Hez J. Bussey |
| Succeeded by | Robert L. Hudson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1930 or 1931 (age 92–93)[1] |
| Education | University of Oklahoma (BA, LLB) |
Education edit
Johnson received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Oklahoma and his Bachelor of Laws from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1955.[2]
Career edit
He was active in the Reserve component of the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a Colonel, USAFR, having received the Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit. After being released from active duty in the United States Air Force, Johnson was a senior law partner with the law firm of Phipps, Johnson, Holmes & Hermanson.[2]
On October 31, 1989, he was appointed as a judge of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals by governor Henry Bellmon to fill the unexpired term of judge Hez J. Bussey, serving for District 2.[2] He had served as the court's presiding judge three times.[1] He retired from the bench on August 1, 2014, after serving for 25 years.[3][4]
Notable opinions edit
Johnson wrote the opinion in Bechtel vs State "which held that expert testimony about the Battered Woman Syndrome is admissible in Oklahoma courts."[5][6] He recused himself on an appeal arguing a battered woman defense, a case for April Wilkens, who shot and killed her abuser, Terry Carlton, because Johnson was a family friend of the victim's family, but not for her following appeals.[7]
Organizational memberships and recognition edit
Johnson is the past president of the Kay County Bar Association, and operated a private law practice before he was appointed to the criminal appeals court. In 1993 was named the state's outstanding appellate judge by the Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association.[1]
In 2014, he was recognized with the Cleveland County Bar Association service award.[8] Former Governor, Mary Fallin, appointed Judge Rob Hudson from Guthrie, Oklahoma to fill Johnson's vacancy on March 12, 2015.[9]
References edit
- ^ a b c "Oklahoma Appeals Court Judge Retires after 25 Years". Public Radio Tulsa. July 31, 2014.
- ^ a b c "Johnson, Charles A. – OCCA". okcca.net. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
- ^ "Longtime Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Charles Johnson to retire". Tulsa World.
- ^ "Oklahoma appeals court judge from Ponca City retires after 25 years". Tulsa World.
- ^ Isaacs, Gavin (October 10, 1994). "Self Defense Law Explained". The Oklahoman.
- ^ JUSTIA. "BECHTEL v. STATE".
- ^ Harlow, Brittany (March 22, 2022). "#AprilsStory The Lone Crusaders". VNN.
- ^ "Criminal appeals judge honored". The Norman Transcript. August 6, 2014.
- ^ CAIR Oklahoma. "2020 Overview of Judicial Retention on Oklahoma Ballot".