James Edmondson
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This page is about the Oklahoma Supreme Court justice. If you are looking for information on the federal judge for the Eleventh Circuit, please see James L. Edmondson.
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James E. Edmondson is currently the Vice-Chief Justice on the Oklahoma Supreme Court. He was elected to that position for a two-year term in 2007. He was appointed by Democratic Governor Brad Henry in 2003.
Biography
Born in 1945 in Kansas City, Missouri, Edmondson has lived in Oklahoma for 55 years. He and his wife, Suzanne Rumler Edmondson, have two grown children.[1]
Famiy relationships
Edmondson is the son of Ed Edmondson, a former U.S. Congressman, and June Edmondson, a nephew of former U.S. Senator and Oklahoma Governor J. Howard Edmondson, and the brother of Drew Edmondson.[2]
His daughter, Sarah Edmondson is currently serving a 35 year prison sentence for her role in a crime spree with her boyfriend which included a murder and robbery in Mississippi, and a robbery and attempted murder in Louisiana. At the time, both she and her boyfriend were 18 years of age and on hallucinogenic drugs. The movie, "Natural Born Killers," inspired the couple to set out on what they planned to be a killing spree that left one person dead and another paralyzed from the neck down.[3] Judge Edmondson and his wife were named as co-defendants in a lawsuit filed by the attempted murder victim, because they owned the gun allegedly used in the spree.[4]
Education
Edmondson received his B.A. degree from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah in 1967. He served in the U.S. Navy (1967-1969) before attending Georgetown Law where he received his law degree in 1973.
Legal career
Judge Edmondson was elected to the position of Vice-Chief Justice by the other eight members of the Oklahoma Supreme Court in 2007 after he was appointed to the Court's District 7 seat by Governor Brad Henry in 2003.[5] Edmondson served as District Judge for District 15 since 1983. Before serving as District Judge, Edmondson was a partner in the Edmondson Law Office (1981-1983). In Oklahoma’s Eastern District, he served as Acting U.S. Attorney (1980-1981), and as Assistant U.S. Attorney (1978-1980). He also served as Muskogee County’s Assistant District Attorney (1976-1978).
Political affiliation
Judge Edmondson is currently listed as "nonpartisan," as judges on the Supreme Court of Oklahoma are determined based on merit, rather than through a campaign.[6] He was appointed by Democratic Governor Brad Henry.
On the issues
On Contract Enforcement
2007
Justice Edmondson concurred in the majority opinion of Justice James Winchester, which invalidated a clause in a contract between defendant, a cellular phone provider, and defendant, a customer who entered into a contract with defendant.
On Education
2007
Justice Edmondson concurred in the majority opinion of Justice Rudolph Hargrave. That opinion affirmed the trial judge's finding that the school district did not adequately demonstrate that a teacher who slapped and otherwise physically attacked a special-needs child deserved to have his employment terminated.
Justice Edmondson concurred in the majority opinion of Justice Rudolph Hargrave. That opinion affirmed the trial judge's finding that the school district did not adequately demonstrate that a teacher deserved to have his employment terminated for instructional ineffectiveness and unsatisfactory teaching.
On Elections Law
2006
Justice Edmondson concurred in the opinion of Justice Joseph M. Watt invalidating citizens' efforts to place a Tax Payer Bill of Rights (TABOR) on the Oklahoma ballot due to the use of out-of-state petition circulators by the initiative's supporters.
Justice Edmondson concurred in the majority opinion of Justice Yvonne Kauger, which invalidated a property-rights based voter initiative what would have protected private property from economic-development and regulatory takings.
Employment issues
2007
Justice Edmondson concurred in the opinion of Justice Lavender finding that an employer had the right to terminate the employment of an employee who insisted on pursuing a claim against a third party under Oklahoma's Open Records Act, as there was no "public policy exception" to such a firing.
Negligence/Personal Responsibility
2007
Justice Edmondson concurred in the opinion of Justice Steven W. Taylor finding Dish Network was not responsible for the injuries of a customer who fell off the roof of her home while trying to repair her Dish Network satellite dish, even though Dish Network refused to make the repairs, and encouraged the customer to climb up onto the roof and make the repairs herself.
On Property Rights
2006
Justice Edmondson concurred in the majority opinion of Justice Yvonne Kauger, which invalidated a property-rights based voter initiative what would have protected private property from economic-development and regulatory takings.
