Oklahoma District Court Decisions Key Terms

Learn the necessary terminology for finding Oklahoma District Court decisions

Unless you're an attorney practicing in Oklahoma or otherwise familiar with the judicial system, finding the Oklahoma District Court decisions that affect your company, employers or industry can be a confusing endeavor. First and foremost, you'll need to know the necessary key terms that are specific to Oklahoma's federal court system. Read through the following Oklahoma District Court decisions key terms to learn how to narrow your search.

Western District of Oklahoma

The Western District of Oklahoma is one of three federal court districts in the state. The Western District of Oklahoma includes 32 counties, and is the largest of the three districts. The Court consists of six district judges, two senior judges and six magistrate judges.
Western District of Oklahoma by reading through the frequently asked questions on the Court's website.

Eastern District of Oklahoma

The Eastern District of Oklahoma serves 26 counties. Two district judges are assigned to the Eastern District of Oklahoma, which is sometimes referred to as the EDOK.
Eastern District of Oklahoma website.

Northern District of Oklahoma

The Northern District of Oklahoma serves 11 counties and is assigned four judges. Three magistrate judges also serve the Court, which is based out of Tulsa.
Northern District of Oklahoma website.

Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER)

With Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER), the public can access case information and dockets for the Oklahoma district courts, as well as other federal appellate, district and bankruptcy court information. The service is offered by the United States Judiciary and ran by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts.
Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts PACER Service Center. Read an article examining the fees charged to use PACER at Ars Technica.

Civil court decisions

Civil court decisions are rendered when no criminal code has been violated. Civil court deals with issues such as breaches in contract, divorce, copyright violations and other lawsuits. Many district court judges require both parties participate in mediation before hearing the case.

Criminal court decisions

In a criminal court decision, the two parties are the defendant, who allegedly violated a criminal code, and the government on the behalf of the people. Unlike a civil court decision, in which the judge or jury may award monetary damages to the plaintiff, a criminal court decision results in sentencing if the defendant is found guilty. Sentencing may include fines, incarceration or probation.
Cornell University Law School website.