The Hon. M. John Kane, IV is a judge of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. He was appointed to the bench by Governor Kevin Stitt on September 17, 2019, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. John F. Reif.
Prior to his appointment, Kane was the district judge for the Oklahoma Tenth Judicial District, a position to which he was appointed by former Governor Brad Henry in 2005. During his tenure there, he served as president of the Oklahoma Judicial Conference, presiding judge-elect of the Northeastern Judicial Administrative District, and presiding judge of the Oklahoma Court on the Judiciary.
Kane earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics and accounting from Oklahoma State University in 1984. He then completed a J.D. at the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1987.
After graduating from law school, Kane entered into private practice alongside his father and grandfather at the Kane, Kane & Kane Law Offices in Pawhuska. Kane supplemented his practice with service as an administrative law judge for the Child Support Division of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (1999 to 2005) as well as an assistant district attorney (1987 to 1989).
His memberships have included the Osage County Bar Association and the Oklahoma Bar Association.
Kane is a third-generation resident of Osage County. He is the great-grandson of the Hon. Matthew John Kane, former Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, and Mabelle Kennedy, the former Assistant Secretary of the United States Treasury for the Truman Administration. Kane and his wife, Cynthia, have four children. Cynthia is a published author, public speaker, and entrepreneur.