Appointed By: Gov. Mary Fallin
Hon. Thad Balkman is a district judge for the Twenty-First Judicial District in Oklahoma. He was appointed to the bench by former Governor Mary Fallin in October 2013.
The Twenty-First Judicial District includes the District Courts in Cleveland, Garvin, and McClain Counties.
During his judicial tenure, Balkman has presided over felonies, civil cases, divorces, and the Truancy Docket. He has also presided over the community sentencing docket and the Anna McBride Court, a mental health court in Cleveland County.
Prior to his appointment, Balkman was in his second stint in solo practice, having worked in that capacity since 2009, and was the vice-president of External Relations at Verdant Automotive Corporation (2011 to 2012). Before holding these positions, he was vice-president of external relations and general counsel at Phoenix Motorcars (2007 to 2009).
In addition to working as an attorney, Balkman served as the Oklahoma Political Director for former Governor Mitt Romney during his campaign for President (2007 to 2008).
He received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Brigham Young University in 1994. Balkman went on to complete a J.D. at the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1998. While a law student, he was a clerk for the Hon. Charles Johnson with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals.
After graduating from law school, Balkman began his legal career as an associate in the Norman law office of Stanley M. Ward. Then, in 2000, he was elected as a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. During his three terms as a state legislator, Balkman served as a member of the Judiciary Committee and was elected Majority Caucus chairman. He remained a member of the House until 2006.
While in the political arena, he also served as general counsel with the Association of Professional Oklahoma (2001 to 2002); a partner at Lee, Wells & Balkman (2002 to 2003); an associate at Carr & Carr (2004 to 2006); and a sole practitioner in his own private practice (2005 to 2007).
He was a founding member and Executive Director of the Oklahoma Lawyers Association and a graduate of the Oklahoma Bar Leadership Academy.
Balkman also served as a member of the Oklahoma Judicial Conference Executive Committee, the Oklahoma Judges Association Executive Committee, the Oklahoma Uniform Civil Jury Instructions Committee, and the Court on the Judiciary.
He is a past president of the Oklahoma City Chapter of the Brigham Young University Management Society and was the Sooner District Chair for the Boy Scouts of America's Last Frontier Council.
Balkman was named a Rising Star in government relations by Oklahoma Super Lawyers and an Achiever Under 40 by the Journal Record. He was also inducted into the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy’s Child Advocates Hall of Fame and named the Legislator of the Year by the Oklahoma Substance Abuse Services Alliance. Balkman is also an Eagle Scout.
He was born in Long Beach, California, where he graduated from Long Beach Polytechnic High School (1989). Balkman and his wife, Amy, have five children. The family attends the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When not on the bench, he enjoys spending his free time playing disc golf, reading, and riding his bike.
| Current Appointment Oklahoma Twenty-First Judicial District | Oklahoma Twenty-First Judicial District |
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Education
J.D., University of Oklahoma College of Law - 1998 Bachelor's degree, Brigham Young University - 1994 |
J.D., University of Oklahoma College of Law - 1998 Bachelor's degree, Brigham Young University - 1994 |
| Current Court: | OK - Oklahoma Twenty-First Judicial District |
|---|---|
| Clerk phone: | +1 (405) 321-6402 |
| Office: | +1 (405) 329-2400 |
| Role | Employer | Where |
|---|---|---|
| District Judge | Oklahoma Twenty-First Judicial District | Cleveland County, Oklahoma |
| Vice President of External Relations | Verdant Automotive Corporation | None |
| Sole Practitioner | Thad Balkman LLC | None |
| Vice President of External Relations and General Counsel | Phoenix Motorcars | None |
| Sole Practitioner | Thad Balkman, Attorney and Counselor at Law | None |
| Associate | Carr & Carr | None |
| Partner | Lee, Wells & Balkman | Oklahoma County, Oklahoma |
| General Counsel | Association of Professional Oklahoma | None |
| Member | Oklahoma House of Representatives | None |
| Associate | Law Office of Stanley M. Ward | Cleveland County, Oklahoma |
Oklahoma State Courts: Biography
Ballotpedia: Thad Balkman
Wikipedia: Thad Balkman
The Norman Transcript: Former Legislator Thad Balkman Hired to County Judge Position
CNN: From Ferris Bueller to Opioid Trial: A Judge's Wild Ride into History
LinkedIn: Thad Balkman
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