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title: "R Whalen | KnowJudges"
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# R Whalen

Ottawa County District Court · District Judge

## Profile

- Court: Ottawa County District Court
- State: Oklahoma
- Role: District Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-26

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### remote proceedings

Scope: statewide

Oklahoma Rule 34 authorizes videoconferencing in District Courts, subject to the presiding judge's discretion and case-specific limitations.

Evidence excerpt: The Supreme Court hereby authorizes and approves the use of videoconferencing in the District Courts of Oklahoma, as set forth in the following general provisions.

[Rule 34. Videoconferencing in the District Courts](https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=483384)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### remote exhibits

Scope: statewide

Oklahoma Rule 34 permits documents and exhibits used in videoconference proceedings to be transmitted electronically, with original exhibits transferred after the proceeding unless the judge orders otherwise.

Evidence excerpt: Any pleading, other document, or exhibit used in a proceeding conducted by videoconferencing may be transmitted between the court's location and any remote site by electronic means, including, but not limited to, facsimile, scan, or email.

[Rule 34. Videoconferencing in the District Courts](https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=483384)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### remote witness notice

Scope: statewide

For Oklahoma district-court videoconference witness testimony, Rule 34 generally requires a notice of intent 30 days before the proceeding and allows objections within 10 days, subject to judicial discretion.

Evidence excerpt: A proponent of a witness via videoconferencing technology at any hearing or trial shall file and serve on the opposing party a notice of intent to present testimony by videoconferencing technology at least thirty (30) days prior to the scheduled start of such proceeding.

[Rule 34. Videoconferencing in the District Courts](https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=483384)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### courtroom electronic devices

Scope: statewide

Oklahoma's uniform civil jury instruction directs jurors not to use electronic devices while court is in session and prohibits texting, posting, blogging, or broadcasting about the trial.

Evidence excerpt: At this time, turn off all cell phones and other electronic devices. Do not use any electronic devices while court is in session in this case.

[Oklahoma Uniform Jury Instruction 1.0: Use of Electronic Devices and Research Prohibited](https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=479101)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.oscn.net/static/JudicialDirectory.pdf)
- [Official roster](https://www.oscn.net/static/JudicialDirectory.pdf)
- [Oklahoma State Courts Network official judicial roster](https://www.oscn.net/static/JudicialDirectory.pdf)
- [Rule 34. Videoconferencing in the District Courts](https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=483384)
- [Oklahoma Uniform Jury Instruction 1.0: Use of Electronic Devices and Research Prohibited](https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=479101)
- [2026 Oklahoma Judicial Directory](https://www.oscn.net/static/JudicialDirectory.pdf)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- Robert “R” Whalen is an elected judge of the Superior Court of Fresno County, California, serving since January 2023 and currently under an ethics investigation over alleged undisclosed financial ties to a developer
- Nonpartisan Superior Court judge in Fresno County, California, elected in June 2022 and taking office January 2, 2023

### Education

- chief deputy district attorney for Fresno and holds a J.D. from Regent University School of Law

### Additional information

- In May 2026, Whalen ruled that the Fresno City Council violated California’s Ralph M. Brown Act by conducting annual private budget committee meetings closed to the public
- California State Water Resources Control Board, an environmental law matter decided in June 2025



## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Rule 34. Videoconferencing in the District Courts](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-02bd1b61c6f8d05f202d0956) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim.  Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=483384). Collected 2026-07-26.
