Luther L. Bohanon
Encyclopedia
Luther Lee Bohanon was a United States federal judge
.
, Bohanon's family moved to Stigler, Oklahoma
four years later. Another move took the family of 14 children to Kinta
where he completed his elementary education
. He completed his high school
education at Muskogee, Oklahoma
. In 1922 he enrolled at the University of Oklahoma
, where he earned a LL. B.
in 1927. The same month of his graduation he was admitted to practice before the Oklahoma Supreme Court
.
and month later accepted appointment as assistant county attorney of Seminole County, Oklahoma
. He served in this capactity in 1927 and 1928 before ingin the spring of 1928 to form a law partnership with Alfred P. Murrah
in Seminole, Oklahoma. Bohanon was in private practice in Seminole
and Oklahoma City
, Oklahoma from 1928 to 1936, and in Oklahoma City alone from 1936 to 1961. He was in the United States Army
Air Corps Major, JAG Corps from 1942 to 1945.
During World War II
, Judge Bohanon served in the Judge Advocate General
's Department of the U.S. Army Air Force, holding several high-ranking positions. After the war, he returned to Oklahoma City and continued his law practice until appointment to his federal position.
On August 18, 1961, Bohanon was nominated by John F. Kennedy to a joint appointment to seats on the Western
, Eastern
, and Northern
Districts of Oklahoma
, all vacated by William R. Wallace. Bohanon was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 30, 1961, and received his commission the same day. He assumed senior status
on August 2, 1974, which made way for the appointment of H. Dale Cook
for Oklahoma's three districts. Bohanon continued serving as a senior judge until his death on July 18, 2003.
Judge Bohanon was active in Democratic Party
affairs on the local, state and national levels. He was a Mason
and a Shriner
and a member of the United Methodist Church
of Nichols Hills
. He married Marie Swatek in July, 1933.
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....
.
Early life
Born August 9, 1902 in Fort Smith, ArkansasFort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith is the second-largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. With a population of 86,209 in 2010, it is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 298,592 residents which encompasses the Arkansas...
, Bohanon's family moved to Stigler, Oklahoma
Stigler, Oklahoma
Stigler is a city in Haskell County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,731 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Haskell County.-Geography:Stigler is located at...
four years later. Another move took the family of 14 children to Kinta
Kinta, Oklahoma
Kinta is a town in Haskell County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 243 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Kinta is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
where he completed his elementary education
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
. He completed his high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
education at Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee County, and home to Bacone College. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma....
. In 1922 he enrolled at the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
, where he earned a LL. B.
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
in 1927. The same month of his graduation he was admitted to practice before the Oklahoma Supreme Court
Oklahoma Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Oklahoma is one of the two highest judicial bodies in the U.S. state of Oklahoma and leads the Oklahoma Court System, the judicial branch of the government of Oklahoma....
.
Law career
Bohanon opened a law office in Seminole, OklahomaSeminole, Oklahoma
Seminole is a city in Seminole County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 6,899 at the 2000 census. Seminole experienced a large population growth in the 1920s due to an oil boom...
and month later accepted appointment as assistant county attorney of Seminole County, Oklahoma
Seminole County, Oklahoma
Seminole County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 24,894 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Wewoka. Before Oklahoma's admission as a state, the county was the entire small portion of Indian Territory allocated to the Seminoles. Seminole County has been an...
. He served in this capactity in 1927 and 1928 before ingin the spring of 1928 to form a law partnership with Alfred P. Murrah
Alfred P. Murrah
Alfred Paul Murrah was an American attorney and judge. The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, which was named after him, was destroyed in the April 19, 1995, Oklahoma City bombing.-Early life and education:...
in Seminole, Oklahoma. Bohanon was in private practice in Seminole
Seminole, Oklahoma
Seminole is a city in Seminole County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 6,899 at the 2000 census. Seminole experienced a large population growth in the 1920s due to an oil boom...
and Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
, Oklahoma from 1928 to 1936, and in Oklahoma City alone from 1936 to 1961. He was in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Air Corps Major, JAG Corps from 1942 to 1945.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Judge Bohanon served in the Judge Advocate General
Judge Advocate General's Corps
Judge Advocate General's Corps, also known as JAG or JAG Corps, refers to the legal branch or specialty of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy. Officers serving in the JAG Corps are typically called Judge Advocates. The Marine Corps and Coast Guard do not maintain separate JAG Corps...
's Department of the U.S. Army Air Force, holding several high-ranking positions. After the war, he returned to Oklahoma City and continued his law practice until appointment to his federal position.
On August 18, 1961, Bohanon was nominated by John F. Kennedy to a joint appointment to seats on the Western
United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
The United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma is a Federal district court....
, Eastern
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the following counties: Adair, Atoka, Bryan, Carter, Cherokee, Choctaw, Coal, Haskell, Hughes, Johnston, Latimer, Le Flore, Love, Marshall, McCurtain, McIntosh, Murray,...
, and Northern
United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma is the Federal district court for a portion of the state of Oklahoma....
Districts of 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...
, all vacated by William R. Wallace. Bohanon was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 30, 1961, and received his commission the same day. He assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on August 2, 1974, which made way for the appointment of H. Dale Cook
H. Dale Cook
H. Dale Cook was an American federal judge. He served on the bench from 1974 to 2008.-Early life:...
for Oklahoma's three districts. Bohanon continued serving as a senior judge until his death on July 18, 2003.
Judge Bohanon was active in Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
affairs on the local, state and national levels. He was a Mason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
and a Shriner
Shriners
The Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, also commonly known as Shriners and abbreviated A.A.O.N.M.S., established in 1870, is an appendant body to Freemasonry, based in the United States...
and a member of the United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
of Nichols Hills
Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
Nichols Hills is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. The population was 4,056 at the 2000 census. Nichols Hills is a bedroom community and is completely cut off from further growth. It is surrounded by Oklahoma City and The...
. He married Marie Swatek in July, 1933.