Joseph Wilson Morris
Encyclopedia
Joseph Wilson Morris is an American attorney, arbitrator and former United States federal judge
. He is a partner in the Tulsa, Oklahoma
law firm of Gable Gotwals.
. He graduated from Reno Community High School in Nickerson, Kansas
. He received an A.B. in political science from Washburn University
in 1943. He received an LL.B. from the Washburn University School of Law
in 1947 graduating first in his class and Order of the Coif
. He received an LL.M. from the University of Michigan Law School
in 1948. Morris received a S.J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School
in 1955. In 1942, while a student at Washburn, Morris was initiated into the Kansas Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta
.
Morris was admitted to practice law in Kansas
in 1947, in Oklahoma
in 1949 and in Texas
in 1978.
Judge Morris and his late wife, Deane Conklin Morris, had three children. He is now married to Dona Morris.
from 1943 to 1946. After receiving his LLM degree, he was a staff attorney with Shell Oil Company
from 1948 to 1960. Subsequently he was general counsel of Amerada Petroleum Corporation, from 1960 to 1969. He was a vice president and associate general counsel, Amerada Hess Corporation from 1969 to 1972.
In 1972, Morris left Amerada Hess to serve as dean of the University of Tulsa College of Law
from 1972 to 1974. On March 19, 1974, President Richard M. Nixon nominated Morris to the federal bench to fill the seat vacated by Edwin Langley. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on April 5, 1974, and received his commission on April 12, 1974. He served as chief judge from 1975-1978. Morris resigned from the bench on July 31, 1978 to become general counsel of Shell Oil Company
. He remained in that role until 1983 when he joined Gable Gotwals in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
During the last 20 years, Morris has spent the majority of his time as an arbitrator in significant commercial arbitrations, both domestic and international.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
. He is a partner in the Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
law firm of Gable Gotwals.
Family and Education
Morris was born in Rice County, KansasRice County, Kansas
Rice County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas; it was named in memory of Samuel Allen Rice, Brigadier-General, United States volunteers, killed April 30, 1864, at Jenkins Ferry, Arkansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 10,083...
. He graduated from Reno Community High School in Nickerson, Kansas
Nickerson, Kansas
Nickerson is a city in Reno County, Kansas, United States. It was named in honor of Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway president Thomas Nickerson when the town was founded in 1872. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,070.-Geography:...
. He received an A.B. in political science from Washburn University
Washburn University
Washburn University is a co-educational, public institution of higher learning in Topeka, Kansas, USA. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and business. Washburn has 550 faculty members, who teach more than 6,400 undergraduate students and...
in 1943. He received an LL.B. from the Washburn University School of Law
Washburn University School of Law
The Washburn University School of Law, commonly referred to as Washburn Law, is a public law school located on the main campus of Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. Washburn Law was founded in 1903. The school has 79 faculty members and 445 students...
in 1947 graduating first in his class and Order of the Coif
Order of the Coif
The Order of the Coif is an honor society for United States law school graduates. A student at an American law school who earns a Juris Doctor degree and graduates in the top 10 percent of his or her class is eligible for membership if the student's law school has a chapter of the...
. He received an LL.M. from the University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
in 1948. Morris received a S.J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
in 1955. In 1942, while a student at Washburn, Morris was initiated into the Kansas Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta , also known as Phi Delt, is an international fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. The fraternity has about 169 active chapters and colonies in over 43 U.S...
.
Morris was admitted to practice law in Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
in 1947, in Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
in 1949 and in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in 1978.
Judge Morris and his late wife, Deane Conklin Morris, had three children. He is now married to Dona Morris.
Legal career
Morris spent three years as an ensign in the U.S. Naval ReserveUnited States Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...
from 1943 to 1946. After receiving his LLM degree, he was a staff attorney with Shell Oil Company
Shell Oil Company
Shell Oil Company is the United States-based subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell, a multinational oil company of Anglo Dutch origins, which is amongst the largest oil companies in the world. Approximately 22,000 Shell employees are based in the U.S. The head office in the U.S. is in Houston, Texas...
from 1948 to 1960. Subsequently he was general counsel of Amerada Petroleum Corporation, from 1960 to 1969. He was a vice president and associate general counsel, Amerada Hess Corporation from 1969 to 1972.
In 1972, Morris left Amerada Hess to serve as dean of the University of Tulsa College of Law
University of Tulsa College of Law
University of Tulsa College of Law is a private law school in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Dean of the College of Law is Janet Koven Levit, a nationally recognized scholar in the field of comparative and international law. Levit was named Interim Dean on October 10, 2007, and permanently appointed as Dean...
from 1972 to 1974. On March 19, 1974, President Richard M. Nixon nominated Morris to the federal bench to fill the seat vacated by Edwin Langley. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on April 5, 1974, and received his commission on April 12, 1974. He served as chief judge from 1975-1978. Morris resigned from the bench on July 31, 1978 to become general counsel of Shell Oil Company
Shell Oil Company
Shell Oil Company is the United States-based subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell, a multinational oil company of Anglo Dutch origins, which is amongst the largest oil companies in the world. Approximately 22,000 Shell employees are based in the U.S. The head office in the U.S. is in Houston, Texas...
. He remained in that role until 1983 when he joined Gable Gotwals in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
During the last 20 years, Morris has spent the majority of his time as an arbitrator in significant commercial arbitrations, both domestic and international.