Okla. appeals court judge retires after 25 years

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – An Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals judge is retiring after 25 years of service.

Friday is Judge Charles Johnson’s last official day on the appellate court, which has exclusive jurisdiction in the appeal of criminal cases in the state.

The 83-year-old Johnson has served on the court since 1989. Johnson, of Ponca City, previously served as an officer in the Judge Advocate General Corps of the U.S. Air Force Reserve from 1955 until 1985, retiring as a colonel.

Johnson operated a private law practice before he was appointed to the criminal appeals court. He has served as the court’s presiding judge three times and in 1993 was named the state’s outstanding appellate judge by the Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association.

Johnson is past president of the Kay County Bar Association.