Ralph B. Hodges
Encyclopedia
Ralph B. Hodges served as Chief Justice
of the Oklahoma Supreme Court
from 1977 - 1978 and 1993 - 1994. Hodges was appointed to the Oklahoma Supreme Court by Governor Henry Bellmon
on April 19, 1965 and served until his retirement from the Court in 2004.
Born in Anadarko, Oklahoma
on August 4, 1930, Hodges graduated from high school in 1948. Hodges received his Bachelor of Art from Oklahoma Baptist University
in 1952 and his Juris Doctor
from the University of Oklahoma
in 1954. After graduating from law school Hodges was in private practice in Durant, Oklahoma
from April 1954 until January 1957. From 1957 to 1959 Hodges served as the Bryan County Attorney before he was elected District Judge in 1958 and re-elected in 1962. On April 19, 1965 Oklahoma Governor Henry Bellmon
appointed Hodges as a Justice on the Oklahoma Supreme Court
. At the time of his appointment to the Court, Hodges was 34 years old, becoming the youngest Justice to serve on the Court since statehood. Hodges was re-elected to the Court in 1966, 1968, 1974, 1980, 1986, and 1992; serving as Chief Justice from 1977 - 1978 and 1993 - 1994.
In 1977, Justice Hodges was named Outstanding State Appellate Jurist by The Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Hodges also served on the Board of Trustees for Oklahoma Baptist University
from 1968 until 1971.
Justice Hodges currently resides in Putnam City, Oklahoma. He and his wife, Janelle, have six children and twelve grandchildren
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of 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....
from 1977 - 1978 and 1993 - 1994. Hodges was appointed to the Oklahoma Supreme Court by Governor Henry Bellmon
Henry Bellmon
Henry Louis "Harry" Bellmon was an American Republican politician from Oklahoma. He was a member of the Oklahoma Legislature, the 18th and 23rd Governor of Oklahoma , and a two-term United States Senator.-Service in World War II:Bellmon was born in Tonkawa, Oklahoma and graduated from Billings...
on April 19, 1965 and served until his retirement from the Court in 2004.
Born in Anadarko, Oklahoma
Anadarko, Oklahoma
Anadarko is a city in Caddo County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 6,645 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Caddo County.-Early History:Anadarko got its name when its post office was established in 1873...
on August 4, 1930, Hodges graduated from high school in 1948. Hodges received his Bachelor of Art from Oklahoma Baptist University
Oklahoma Baptist University
Oklahoma Baptist University is a co-educational Christian liberal arts university located in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and owned by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. Established in 1910, OBU is ranked No.2 among baccalaureate colleges in the western region in the 2010 U.S...
in 1952 and his 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...
in 1954. After graduating from law school Hodges was in private practice in Durant, Oklahoma
Durant, Oklahoma
Durant is a city in Bryan County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 15,877 at the 2010 census. Durant is the principal city of the Durant Micropolitan Statistical Area, which had a population of 42,416 in 2010...
from April 1954 until January 1957. From 1957 to 1959 Hodges served as the Bryan County Attorney before he was elected District Judge in 1958 and re-elected in 1962. On April 19, 1965 Oklahoma Governor Henry Bellmon
Henry Bellmon
Henry Louis "Harry" Bellmon was an American Republican politician from Oklahoma. He was a member of the Oklahoma Legislature, the 18th and 23rd Governor of Oklahoma , and a two-term United States Senator.-Service in World War II:Bellmon was born in Tonkawa, Oklahoma and graduated from Billings...
appointed Hodges as a Justice on 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....
. At the time of his appointment to the Court, Hodges was 34 years old, becoming the youngest Justice to serve on the Court since statehood. Hodges was re-elected to the Court in 1966, 1968, 1974, 1980, 1986, and 1992; serving as Chief Justice from 1977 - 1978 and 1993 - 1994.
In 1977, Justice Hodges was named Outstanding State Appellate Jurist by The Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Hodges also served on the Board of Trustees for Oklahoma Baptist University
Oklahoma Baptist University
Oklahoma Baptist University is a co-educational Christian liberal arts university located in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and owned by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. Established in 1910, OBU is ranked No.2 among baccalaureate colleges in the western region in the 2010 U.S...
from 1968 until 1971.
Justice Hodges currently resides in Putnam City, Oklahoma. He and his wife, Janelle, have six children and twelve grandchildren