Governor Kevin Stitt Appoints John O'Connor to Serve as Attorney General
OKLAHOMA CITY (July 23, 2021)— Governor Kevin Stitt announced today he has appointed John O’Connor to serve as the Attorney General for the State of Oklahoma. Under Article VI, Section 2 of the Oklahoma Constitution, and 51 O.S. § 10, the Governor has the authority to appoint an attorney general should the office be vacated prior to the term’s expiration. O’Connor will fill the unexpired term ending January 9, 2023.
“I am excited to appoint John O’Connor to serve as Oklahoma’s attorney general,” said Governor Stitt. “John is the right leader for this moment. As an attorney, John is known amongst his peers to be of the highest competence and integrity, receiving the highest possible ethical and legal ratings during his 40 years of practice. More importantly, John is a man of high moral character who will do the right things for the right reasons – not for personal gain. I have the utmost confidence in him to uphold the law and fight for all 4 million Oklahomans.”
O’Connor is an attorney at Hall Estill, a Tulsa-based regional full service law firm. He has 40 years of experience in the field of law, focusing on civil litigation including complex commercial and general civil litigation. O’Connor has an AV peer review rating through Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized as an Oklahoma Super Lawyer, one of Oklahoma’s Top Rated Lawyers, and a Best Lawyer in America. He was also one of 10 attorneys who were selected by the Editorial Board of the Tulsa Business Journal to be recognized among Tulsa's 2012 Power Attorneys. In 2018, President Donald Trump nominated O’Connor to serve as a United States District Judge for the Northern and Eastern Districts of Oklahoma. O’Connor earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Oklahoma State University and graduated law school from the University of Tulsa College of Law.
“I am humbled and honored to have been selected by Governor Stitt to serve 4 million Oklahomans as attorney general protecting their interests and the State of Oklahoma,” said O’Connor. “There is much work to be done and I look forward to bringing my experience to the office in service to the good people of Oklahoma.”
O’Connor is an active member of his community. He is a past-President of the Rotary Club of Tulsa and served two terms as President and Director of Tulsa’s Ronald McDonald House. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Dillon International, Inc., an international country adoption agency, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma State University Alumni Association. Until recently, he also served on the board of trustees for OSU-Tulsa.
A Tulsa native, O’Connor has been married to his wife Lucia for 43 years. They have four children and 10 grandchildren.
QUOTES OF ENDORSEMENT:
“Governor Stitt’s review process for the appointment of Oklahoma’s next Attorney General understandably required a great deal of thoughtful consideration. For me it is important to have a person in that position who has high moral values and integrity. Mr. O’Connor, as Oklahoma’s chief prosecutor, has those qualities in spades. I know him to be fair minded, hardworking and exceptionally competent as an attorney. For this next chapter in his life he will lead an excellent and hardworking staff with a skillset well suited for the protection of the citizens of the State of Oklahoma. Congratulations Attorney General O’Connor.” – Steve Kunzweiler, Tulsa County District Attorney
“John O’Connor has protected the people of Oklahoma in the capacity as attorney for several cases working with Insurance Receivers with successful outcomes. These cases have been complex and require incredible understanding of the law. John O’Connor has had a lifetime of service as past President of Tulsa rotary and Currently OSU Tulsa Board of Regents. Oklahoma will be well served by O’Connor’s dedication to rule of law and fairness in all matters. Oklahoma is in good hands!” - John Doak, former Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner
“I have been very fortunate to know John for a number of years, and to be law partners with him for the last three years. He is a good person, a man of faith, and a tremendous lawyer. Our State will be well served with John’s appointment as Attorney General” – James Milton, immediate past president of Tulsa County Bar
“Good government requires good leadership, and the quality of the laws that we live under are greatly determined by the men and women that are leaders – and John O’Connor is the right leader and the most qualified to lead in such a critical role for Oklahoma.” – Barry Goldwater, Jr.
“Having known John for 40 years, I think highly of him both as a person and an attorney. I regret losing John as a partner, but I am totally confident he will serve the state and its residents superbly in this role.” – Mike Cooke, President & Managing Partner, Hall Estill Law Firm
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