Stitt appoints Osage County judge to Supreme Court

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has appointed Osage County District Judge John Kane to a vacant seat on the state Supreme Court.

Stitt announced the appointment on Tuesday, choosing from among three applicants submitted by the Judicial Nominating Commission. Kane will serve in the seat vacated by the retirement of former Justice John Reif, who was appointed to the state’s highest court by former Gov. Brad Henry in 2007.

Kane has served as district judge in Osage County since 2005. He began practicing law in 1987 and has served as an administrative law judge for the Department of Human Services-Child Support Division and as an assistant district attorney. Kane served as president of the Oklahoma Judicial Conference in 2013-2014.

Kane is Stitt’s first appointment to the state Supreme Court.