Charles A. Johnson (Oklahoma judge)

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Charles A. Johnson
Judge of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals
In office
October 31, 1989 – August 1, 2014
Appointed byHenry Bellmon
Preceded byHez J. Bussey
Succeeded byRobert L. Hudson
Personal details
Born1930 or 1931 (age 92–93)[1]
EducationUniversity of Oklahoma (BA, LLB)

Charles A. Johnson (born 1930/1931) is a former judge of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, serving from 1989 to 2014.

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]

  1. ^ a b c "Oklahoma Appeals Court Judge Retires after 25 Years". Public Radio Tulsa. July 31, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c "Johnson, Charles A. – OCCA". okcca.net. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  3. ^ "Longtime Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Charles Johnson to retire". Tulsa World.
  4. ^ "Oklahoma appeals court judge from Ponca City retires after 25 years". Tulsa World.
  5. ^ Isaacs, Gavin (October 10, 1994). "Self Defense Law Explained". The Oklahoman.
  6. ^ JUSTIA. "BECHTEL v. STATE".
  7. ^ Harlow, Brittany (March 22, 2022). "#AprilsStory The Lone Crusaders". VNN.
  8. ^ "Criminal appeals judge honored". The Norman Transcript. August 6, 2014.
  9. ^ CAIR Oklahoma. "2020 Overview of Judicial Retention on Oklahoma Ballot".