Thomas Rutherford Brett
Encyclopedia
Thomas Rutherford Brett is a former United States federal judge
.
Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
, Brett received a B.B.A. from the University of Oklahoma
in 1952, an LL.B. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law
in 1957, and a J.D.
from the University of Oklahoma College of Law
in 1971. He was a Lieutenant in the United States Army
from 1954 to 1955, and was thereafter a Reserve Colonel in the United States Army
JAG Corps until 1981. He was an Assistant county attorney of Tulsa, Oklahoma
from 1957 to 1958, and was then in private practice in Tulsa until 1979.
On September 28, 1979, Brett was nominated by President Jimmy Carter
to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
created by 92 Stat. 1629. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on October 31, 1979, and received his commission on November 2, 1979. He served as chief judge from 1994 to 1996, assuming senior status
on October 3, 1996. Brett served in that capacity until his retirement on February 1, 2003.
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....
.
Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
, Brett received a B.B.A. 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...
in 1952, an LL.B. from 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....
in 1957, and a J.D.
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 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....
in 1971. He was a Lieutenant 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...
from 1954 to 1955, and was thereafter a Reserve Colonel 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...
JAG Corps until 1981. He was an Assistant county attorney of 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...
from 1957 to 1958, and was then in private practice in Tulsa until 1979.
On September 28, 1979, Brett was nominated by President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
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....
created by 92 Stat. 1629. 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 October 31, 1979, and received his commission on November 2, 1979. He served as chief judge from 1994 to 1996, assuming 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 October 3, 1996. Brett served in that capacity until his retirement on February 1, 2003.