--- title: "Thomas Prince | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-prince-court-of-civil-appeals-judge-oklahoma-court-of-civil-appeals-ok" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Thomas Prince Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals · Court of Civil Appeals Judge ## Profile - Court: Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals - State: Oklahoma - Role: Court of Civil Appeals 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) - [www.oscn.net](https://www.oscn.net/static/JudicialDirectory.pdf) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-prince-court-of-civil-appeals-judge-oklahoma-court-of-civil-appeals-ok", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-prince-court-of-civil-appeals-judge-oklahoma-court-of-civil-appeals-ok", "name": "Thomas Prince | KnowJudges", "description": "Thomas Prince, Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals. 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Prince is an American judge serving on the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals since 2020, appointed by Governor Kevin Stitt to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Kenneth Buettner - District 5, Office 1 judge of the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals, a position he assumed on January 12, 2021, with a term ending January 12, 2031 - 2012–2020: District Judge for Oklahoma County, presiding over over 95 civil and criminal jury trials - 2016–2018: Presiding Judge for the State Multi-County Grand Jury - Pre-2012: Practiced law for 29 years, including as an administrative law judge for the Oklahoma Merit Protection Commission, the State Department of Health, and the Construction Industries Board - Vice-Presiding Judge for the Seventh Judicial Administrative District ### Education ### Additional information - Retained in 2024 and 2022 retention elections, demonstrating public confidence in his judicial work - He was appointed on December 18, 2020, and won his first retention election in November 2024 with 64.6% of the vote