--- title: "Thad Balkman | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thad-balkman-district-judge-cleveland-county-district-court-ok" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-07-26" --- # Thad Balkman Cleveland County District Court · District Judge ## Profile - Court: Cleveland 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) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thad-balkman-district-judge-cleveland-county-district-court-ok", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thad-balkman-district-judge-cleveland-county-district-court-ok", "name": "Thad Balkman | KnowJudges", "description": "Thad Balkman, Cleveland County District Court. 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Balkman, born October 23, 1971, is an American lawyer, politician, and judge. - His office is located in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, where he presides over civil and criminal cases within the district - Before his judicial service, Balkman was active in politics as a Republican member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives - He also served on the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws - Balkman began his legal career in private practice - focusing on employment law, and later held the role of General Counsel for the Association of Professional Oklahoma Educators and Phoenix Motorcars, where he testified before the U.S. Senate Energy Committee ## 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.