Thomas Rutherford Brett

Thomas Rutherford Brett
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
In office October 3, 1996 – February 1, 2003
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
In office 1994–1996
Preceded by	James O. Ellison
Succeeded by	Terence C. Kern
Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
In office November 2, 1979 – October 3, 1996
Appointed by	Jimmy Carter
Preceded by	Seat established by 92 Stat. 1629
Succeeded by	Claire Eagan
Personal details
Born	(1931-10-02)October 2, 1931 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Died	February 6, 2021(2021-02-06) (aged 89) Tulsa, Oklahoma
Education	University of Oklahoma (BBA) University of Oklahoma College of Law (LLB, JD)
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch/service	United States Army United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps
Years of service	1954-1955 1955-1981
Rank	Colonel

Thomas Rutherford Brett (October 2, 1931 – February 6, 2021) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma.

Education and career

Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Brett received a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma in 1952, a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1957, and a Juris Doctor from the same institution in 1971. He was a lieutenant in the United States Army from 1954 to 1955, and was thereafter a reserve colonel in the United States Army JAG Corps until 1981. He was an assistant county attorney in Tulsa, Oklahoma from 1957 to 1958, and was then in private practice in Tulsa until 1979.

Federal judicial service

On September 28, 1979, Brett was nominated by President Jimmy Carter to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma created by 92 Stat. 1629. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 31, 1979, and received his commission on November 2, 1979. He served as Chief Judge from 1994 to 1996, assuming senior status on October 3, 1996. Brett served in that capacity until his retirement on February 1, 2003.

Death

Brett died on February 6, 2021, at age 89, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Sources

• Thomas Rutherford Brett at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.