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Candidate

Robert L. Hudson

Independent · Incumbent

Judge, Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, District 2

Robert L. Hudson has been the District 2 judge on the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, the state's highest court for criminal cases, since Governor Mary Fallin appointed him in 20153. He previously served as district attorney for Payne and Logan counties, first assistant attorney general, and a special judge3. This is a nonpartisan retention question: voters answer yes or no on keeping the judge, and no party is listed on the ballot6.

  • Judge, Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, District 2, since 20153
  • Special Judge, 9th Judicial District (Logan and Payne counties), from November 2012 until his appointment3
  • First Assistant Attorney General of Oklahoma, from 20113
  • District Attorney for Payne and Logan counties, appointed in 1996 by Governor Frank Keating and reelected four times; helped set up Oklahoma's first drug court34
  • Private law practice in Guthrie, 1983 to 1996; commissioner of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation for nearly ten years3
  • JD, University of Oklahoma College of Law, 1983; degree in agricultural economics and accounting, Oklahoma State University, 19803
  • Appointed by Governor Mary Fallin; the court's biography gives the appointment date as March 11, 20153. He succeeded Judge Charles Johnson4. Appellate judges are appointed by the governor from three names sent by the Judicial Nominating Commission6. Voters retained him in November 20205. His current term ends January 11, 2027, so the 2026 vote decides whether he serves a new six-year term2.

Record

  • The State Election Board's November 3, 2026 election list includes the retention question for this seat, and its terms of office list shows the seat on the 2026 retention ballot12.

Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.

Sources (8)

Every claim on this page links to one of these
  1. November 3, 2026 List of Elections (Cleveland County section lists each judicial retention question by court and district; judges are not named)Oklahoma State Election Board
  2. State of Oklahoma Terms of Office (3/2025), Judicial/Nonpartisan sectionOklahoma State Election Board
  3. Robert L. HudsonOklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals
  4. Gov. Fallin Appoints Robert Hudson To Court Of Criminal Appeals (Associated Press, March 11, 2015)KGOU
  5. Rob HudsonBallotpedia
  6. Oklahoma Retention Ballot (CourtFacts, a voter information site created by the Oklahoma Bar Association)Oklahoma Bar Association
  7. Council on Judicial ComplaintsState of Oklahoma
  8. Sample Official Ballot, General Election, November 3, 2020, Osage County, Precinct 570107 (statewide judicial retention questions with each judge's name as printed)Osage County Election Board