Scott Palk

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Scott Palk
Image of Scott Palk

Nonpartisan

United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
Tenure

2017 - Present

Years in position

6

Education

Bachelor's

Oklahoma State University, 1989

Law

University of Oklahoma College of Law, 1992

Personal
Birthplace
Tulsa, Okla.


Scott Lawrence Palk is a judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. He was nominated to the court by President Donald Trump (R) on May 8, 2017, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 26, 2017, by a vote of 79-16.[1][2] To see a full list of judges appointed by Donald Trump, click here.

The United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.

At the time of his nomination, Palk was working as assistant dean for students and assistant general counsel for the University of Oklahoma College of Law.[2]

Judicial nominations and appointments

United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma

See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump

Palk was nominated to the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma by President Donald Trump (R) on May 8, 2017. The U.S. Senate confirmed Palk on October 26, 2017, by a vote of 79-16.[1] He received commission on October 31, 2017.[2] To read more about the federal nomination process, click here.

Nomination Tracker
Fedbadgesmall.png
Nominee Information
Name: Scott L. Palk
Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
Progress
Confirmed 171 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: May 8, 2017
ApprovedAABA Rating: Unanimously Qualified
Questionnaire: Questionnaire
ApprovedAHearing: April 20, 2016
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
ApprovedAReported: June 15, 2017 
ApprovedAConfirmed: October 26, 2017
ApprovedAVote: 79-16

Confirmation vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed Palk on October 26, 2017, on a vote of 79-16.[1] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.

Scott Palk confirmation vote (October 26, 2017)
Party Yea Nay No vote
Electiondot.png Democratic 27 15 4
Ends.png Republican 51 0 1
Grey.png Independent 1 1 0
Total 79 16 5

Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

Palk had his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 15, 2017. The committee voted to advance Palk's nomination to the full Senate on June 15, 2017.[1]

Nomination

Palk was nominated to replace Judge Stephen Friot, who assumed senior status on December 1, 2014.

The American Bar Association unanimously rated Palk qualified for the position.[3] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.

Western District of Oklahoma (2016)

See also: Federal judges nominated by Barack Obama

President Barack Obama (D) nominated Palk to the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma on December 16, 2015, to serve as an Article III federal judge. Obama stated, regarding Palk and three other nominees, "I am pleased to nominate these distinguished individuals to serve on the United States District Court bench. I am confident they will serve the American people with integrity and a steadfast commitment to justice."[4]

The American Bar Association rated Palk Unanimously Qualified for the nomination.[5]

Hearings on Palk's nomination were held in the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary on April 20, 2016, and his nomination was reported by U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on May 19, 2016.[6][7] On January 3, 2017, Palk's nomination was returned to President Obama at the sine die adjournment of the 114th Congress.

Early life and education

A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Palk earned his bachelor's degree from Oklahoma State University in 1989 and his J.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1992.[4]

Professional career

  • Assistant dean for students
  • Assistant general counsel
  • Consultant to the Threat Assessment Review Committee
  • 1999-2002: First assistant district attorney[4]

About the court

Western District of Oklahoma
Tenth Circuit
OK-WD.gif
Judgeships
Posts: 7
Judges: 7
Vacancies: 0
Judges
Chief: Timothy DeGiusti
Active judges: Timothy DeGiusti, Jodi Dishman, Charles B. Goodwin, John Heil III, Bernard Jones, Scott Palk, Patrick Wyrick

Senior judges:
Wayne Alley, Robin Cauthron, Stephen Friot, Joe Heaton, Timothy D. Leonard, Vicki Miles-LaGrange, James Payne, David Russell


The United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma is one of 94 United States district courts. It operates out of a courthouse in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit based in Denver, Colorado at the Byron White Federal Courthouse.

The Western District of Oklahoma has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.

The jurisdiction of the Western District of Oklahoma consists of all the counties in the western part of the state of Oklahoma.

To read opinions published by this court, click here.

The federal nomination process

Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:

  • The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
  • The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
  • The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
  • As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
  • After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
  • If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
  • If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
  • The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
  • If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
  • If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 United States Congress, "PN 374 — Scott L. Palk — The Judiciary," accessed October 26, 2017
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Federal Judicial Center, "Palk, Scott Lawrence," accessed April 28, 2020
  3. ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III and Article IV judicial nominees," accessed April 28, 2020
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 The White House, "President Obama Nominates Four to Serve on the United States District Courts," December 16, 2015
  5. ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III Judicial Nominees: 114th Congress," accessed April 19, 2016
  6. ↑ U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, "Nominations," April 20, 2016
  7. ↑ United States Senate, "Pending nominations on the executive calendar (civilian)," May 19, 2016

Political offices
Preceded by
- 		United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
2017-Present		 Succeeded by
-


Oklahoma courts

Federal courts:

Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Oklahoma, Northern District of Oklahoma, Western District of Oklahoma • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Oklahoma, Northern District of Oklahoma, Western District of Oklahoma

State courts:

Oklahoma Supreme Court • Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals • Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals • Oklahoma District Courts • Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Court of Existing Claims

State resources:

Courts in Oklahoma • Oklahoma judicial elections • Judicial selection in Oklahoma

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