Frank Howell Seay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frank Howell Seay
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| Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma | |
| Assumed office September 25, 2003 |
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| Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma | |
| In office 1980–1996 |
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| Preceded by | Joseph Wilson Morris |
| Succeeded by | Michael Burrage |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma | |
| In office November 2, 1979 – September 25, 2003 |
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| Appointed by | Jimmy Carter |
| Preceded by | Joseph Wilson Morris |
| Succeeded by | Ronald A. White |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 5, 1938 Shawnee, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Education | University of Oklahoma (BA, LLB) |
Frank Howell Seay (born September 5, 1938) is a retired United States federal judge. He served for many years in Oklahoma. He is known for his important work in the justice system.
Contents
Early Life and Legal Career
Frank Seay was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He went to the University of Oklahoma. There he earned two degrees. He got a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1961. He then earned a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1963.
After college, he worked as a lawyer. He had his own law practice in Seminole, Oklahoma. He also served as the county attorney for Seminole County. Later, he became an assistant district attorney. Before becoming a federal judge, he was a judge in Oklahoma's state court system.
Becoming a Federal Judge
President Jimmy Carter chose Frank Seay to be a federal judge. This happened on September 28, 1979. He was approved by the United States Senate soon after. He officially became a judge on November 2, 1979.
He served on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. This court handles federal cases in eastern Oklahoma. Judge Seay was the Chief Judge of this court from 1980 to 1996. He took on "senior status" on September 25, 2003. This means he could still work part-time if he chose.
The Ada Case and Justice
Judge Seay played a key role in a very important case. This case involved two men, Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz. They had been wrongly convicted of a crime in Ada, Oklahoma. Their story was even written about in a book called The Innocent Man.
Judge Seay helped to overturn their convictions. He made sure they got a fair review of their cases. He believed it was very important to correct mistakes in the justice system. He once wrote, "God help us, if ever in this great country we turn our heads while people who have not had fair trials are executed. That almost happened in this case." This shows how much he cared about fairness.
Native American Heritage
Frank Seay discovered something special about his family. He learned that his grandfather was a full-blooded Native American. This heritage was likely Cherokee.
He found this out after he became a federal judge. This made him the first Native American person to be appointed to a federal judgeship in the United States.
See also
- List of Native American jurists
- List of United States federal judges by longevity of service
Sources
- Frank Howell Seay at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Joseph Wilson Morris |
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma 1979–2003 |
Succeeded by Ronald A. White |
| Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma 1980–1996 |
Succeeded by Michael Burrage |
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