Judge Doug Gabbard II District 3, Office 1

Judge Doug Gabbard was born in Lindsay. A National Merit Finalist, Gabbard attended the University of Oklahoma, receiving a bachelor’s degree in 1974 and a juris doctor in 1977. While attending OU, he was a member of the OU Debate Team and the OU National Mock Trial team. He has also attended the National Judicial College and the Kansas University Law & Organizational Economics Center.

After graduating from law school, Gabbard worked two years in private practice and as a City Judge, three years as a assistant district attorney, and three years as First Assistant District Attorney and county legal advisor for Atoka, Bryan and Coal Counties. In 1985, Gov. George Nigh appointed him District Judge for the 25th District, where he served for 20 years. During this period, fellow judges elected him to 14 consecutive terms as Presiding Judge for southeastern Oklahoma. He also served as Presiding Judge for a State Court of Criminal Appeals emergency panel, Presiding Judge for a State Court of Tax Review panel, Vice-Presiding Judge of the State Court on the Judiciary, and Director of the Oklahoma Trial Judges Association.

In September 2004, he was nominated for appointment to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. In September 2005, Gov. Brad Henry appointed him to the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals, where he currently serves as Presiding Judge of Division IV. Judge Gabbard attends the First United Methodist Church and is a 32nd Degree Mason. He is a native American and a member of the Chickasaw Nation, currently serving as its Ethics Commission Chairman.

Gabbard has received many honors, including a distinguished service award from the State Disabled American Veterans and inclusion in both Who’s Who in American Law and Who’s Who in America. Judge Gabbard is married to Pethi Hayes-Gabbard, an attorney in Atoka, and has five children.