Steven W. Taylor
Encyclopedia
Steven W. Taylor, is the Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court
.
. During his high school years at McAlester High School in McAlester, Oklahoma
, he served as a student body president and as member of the speech and debate team, and the state and national honor societies. He earned a B.A. in political science from Oklahoma State University, and a Juris Doctor
from the University of Oklahoma
. While a student at OSU, he was actively involved in student government and honor society and was a member of the Kappa Sigma
fraternity.
. During his military career, after his training as an infantry platoon commander, he served as a prosecutor, defense counsel, and ultimately as a Special Court Martial Judge. He became the youngest judge in the U.S. armed forces at the age of 28. He was later promoted to the rank of Major. In 1978 he married Mary E. B. Taylor, a public school teacher and they have one son, Wilson Harmon Taylor. Following a two-year stint on the McAlester City Council, he served as mayor from 1982 to 1984, and was the youngest mayor in the city's history. In 1983 he was named one of the "Three Outstanding Young Oklahomans. In 1985, the City of McAlester named its new industrial park the "Steven W. Taylor Industrial Park" in recognition of his economic development efforts as Mayor. In recent years, Justice Taylor has been recognized as "Citizen of the Year" in McAlester. He was granted the "Award of Judicial Excellence" by the Oklahoma Bar Association in
2003.
In 2004, Oklahoma State University named him a "Leadership Legacy" and a "Distinguished Graduate". He was inducted into the Oklahoma State University Hall of Fame in 2007. Then the University of Oklahoma
presented Justice Taylor its Regents Alumni Award in 2009; with this award, he became the only person ever to receive the highest alumni recognition of both Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma. Taylor serves on the Board of Visitors of the University of Oklahoma College of Law
. He is the co-author of University of Oklahoma College of Law: A Centennial History a book published in 2009 detailing the 100 year history of the OU law school.
Justice Taylor is a director of the Oklahoma Heritage Association. He serves on the board of directors of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
and is a trustee of the Oklahoma City National Memorial
and in 2010 became a trustee for Oklahoma City University
.
In 2007, Oklahoma's centennial year, OKLAHOMA magazine named Justice Taylor as one of "100 Who Shaped Us" - a list of past and living Oklahomans who influenced the state's first 100 years.
In 2009, Justice Taylor received the highest recognition given to an Oklahoman, induction into the OKLAHOMA HALL OF FAME.
in September, 2004 and was retained by the citizens in statewide votes during the 2006 and 2010 general elections. From 1984 to 1994 he served as Associate District Judge in the 18th Judicial District. In 1991 he was the first Associate District Judge ever to be elected President of the Oklahoma Judicial Conference. From 1994 to 2004, he served as Chief Judge of the 18th Judicial District, which encompasses Pittsburg
and McIntosh
Counties. In his over 20 years as a trial judge, he presided over more than 500 jury trials, including numerous murder trials. Most notably, he presided over the state murder trial of Oklahoma City bombing
suspect Terry Nichols
, following a change of venue from Oklahoma County
.
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....
.
Early life
Steven Taylor was born in Henryetta, OklahomaHenryetta, Oklahoma
Henryetta is a city in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 6,096 at the 2000 census.Henryetta is notable as the high school hometown of NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman...
. During his high school years at McAlester High School in McAlester, Oklahoma
McAlester, Oklahoma
McAlester is a city in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 17,783 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pittsburg County. It is currently the largest city in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, followed by Durant....
, he served as a student body president and as member of the speech and debate team, and the state and national honor societies. He earned a B.A. in political science from Oklahoma State University, and a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from 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...
. While a student at OSU, he was actively involved in student government and honor society and was a member of the Kappa Sigma
Kappa Sigma
Kappa Sigma , commonly nicknamed Kappa Sig, is an international fraternity with currently 282 active chapters and colonies in North America. Kappa Sigma has initiated more than 240,000 men on college campuses throughout the United States and Canada. Today, the Fraternity has over 175,000 living...
fraternity.
Career
From 1970 to 1978, he served in the United States Marine CorpsUnited States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. During his military career, after his training as an infantry platoon commander, he served as a prosecutor, defense counsel, and ultimately as a Special Court Martial Judge. He became the youngest judge in the U.S. armed forces at the age of 28. He was later promoted to the rank of Major. In 1978 he married Mary E. B. Taylor, a public school teacher and they have one son, Wilson Harmon Taylor. Following a two-year stint on the McAlester City Council, he served as mayor from 1982 to 1984, and was the youngest mayor in the city's history. In 1983 he was named one of the "Three Outstanding Young Oklahomans. In 1985, the City of McAlester named its new industrial park the "Steven W. Taylor Industrial Park" in recognition of his economic development efforts as Mayor. In recent years, Justice Taylor has been recognized as "Citizen of the Year" in McAlester. He was granted the "Award of Judicial Excellence" by the Oklahoma Bar Association in
2003.
In 2004, Oklahoma State University named him a "Leadership Legacy" and a "Distinguished Graduate". He was inducted into the Oklahoma State University Hall of Fame in 2007. Then 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...
presented Justice Taylor its Regents Alumni Award in 2009; with this award, he became the only person ever to receive the highest alumni recognition of both Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma. Taylor serves on the Board of Visitors of the University of Oklahoma College of Law
University of Oklahoma College of Law
The University of Oklahoma College of Law is an ABA-certified law school located on the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman, Oklahoma. Currently, the College of Law has an enrollment of 527 law students....
. He is the co-author of University of Oklahoma College of Law: A Centennial History a book published in 2009 detailing the 100 year history of the OU law school.
Justice Taylor is a director of the Oklahoma Heritage Association. He serves on the board of directors of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation , located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institute. Established in 1946, OMRF is dedicated to understanding and developing more effective treatments for human disease...
and is a trustee of the Oklahoma City National Memorial
Oklahoma City National Memorial
The Oklahoma City National Memorial is a memorial in the United States that honors the victims, survivors, rescuers, and all who were affected by the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995. The memorial is located in downtown Oklahoma City on the former site of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal...
and in 2010 became a trustee for Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University, often referred to as OCU, is a coeducational, urban, private university historically affiliated with the United Methodist Church...
.
In 2007, Oklahoma's centennial year, OKLAHOMA magazine named Justice Taylor as one of "100 Who Shaped Us" - a list of past and living Oklahomans who influenced the state's first 100 years.
In 2009, Justice Taylor received the highest recognition given to an Oklahoman, induction into the OKLAHOMA HALL OF FAME.
Judicial career
He was appointed to the Supreme Court of Oklahoma by Governor Brad HenryBrad Henry
Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...
in September, 2004 and was retained by the citizens in statewide votes during the 2006 and 2010 general elections. From 1984 to 1994 he served as Associate District Judge in the 18th Judicial District. In 1991 he was the first Associate District Judge ever to be elected President of the Oklahoma Judicial Conference. From 1994 to 2004, he served as Chief Judge of the 18th Judicial District, which encompasses Pittsburg
Pittsburg County, Oklahoma
Pittsburg County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 43,953. Its county seat is McAlester.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,569 km²...
and McIntosh
McIntosh County, Oklahoma
McIntosh County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 19,456. Its county seat is Eufaula.-Geography:...
Counties. In his over 20 years as a trial judge, he presided over more than 500 jury trials, including numerous murder trials. Most notably, he presided over the state murder trial of Oklahoma City bombing
Oklahoma City bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19...
suspect Terry Nichols
Terry Nichols
Terry Lynn Nichols is a convicted bomber's accomplice. Prior to his incarceration, he held a variety of short-term jobs, working as a farmer, grain elevator manager, real estate salesman, ranch hand, and house husband. He met his future co-conspirator, Timothy McVeigh, during a brief stint in the...
, following a change of venue from Oklahoma County
Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
Oklahoma County is a county located in the central partof the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 718,633 at the 2010 census. The county seat and principal city is Oklahoma City...
.