District Judge
Lee Turner
8th Judicial District — Kay & Noble Counties, Oklahoma
Fair • Firm • Impartial • Experienced
14
Years on the Bench
30+
Years Legal Experience
Prosecutor
Kay & Noble Counties
Officer
Certified Law Enforcement
District Judge
District Judge Lee Turner has announced his candidacy for re-election as District Judge for the Eighth Judicial District, serving Kay and Noble Counties in 2026. Judge Turner was first elected to the bench in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Prior to that, he served more than six years as Special Judge, beginning with his appointment in 2012. He is now in his fourteenth year of judicial service.
Throughout his career, Judge Turner has remained committed to serving the citizens of Kay and Noble Counties with integrity, fairness, and impartiality. With over 30 years of legal experience and more than four decades of public service, he brings a depth of knowledge and proven leadership to the bench.
As the elected District Judge for both Kay and Noble Counties, Judge Turner also serves as Chief Judge of the district. In this role, he oversees court administration, case assignments, and judicial operations, working closely with associate district judges, special judges, and court staff to ensure efficient and fair administration of justice.
Judge Turner also served as Presiding Judge of the North-Central Judicial Administrative District for 2023–2024, where he coordinated judicial operations across multiple counties and handled case reassignments when conflicts arose.
Judicial Duties
Judge Turner's judicial philosophy is rooted in a commitment to the rule of law. He adheres to a strict textualist and constitutionalist approach, applying the law as written while ensuring due process and equal access to the courts for all citizens. He believes every individual who enters the courtroom deserves to be heard and treated with respect.
The District Court presides over felony cases from initial filing through the preliminary hearing stage — including Initial Appearance dockets, Attorney Status Review dockets, Felony Status dockets, and evidentiary Preliminary Hearings — as well as all misdemeanor cases from initial filing to final disposition, including jury trials. The court also rules on applications for search warrants and arrest warrants.
In Kay County, the court oversees family law cases including final trials in dissolution of marriage and child custody cases, protective order hearings, small claims docket, and civil lawsuits. The court additionally handles Deprived Juvenile Dockets, Probate cases, Appeals from Municipal Courts, and Community Sentencing compliance dockets in both Kay and Noble Counties.
He credits much of his professional development to the mentorship of respected members of the judiciary and values the experience gained through years of collaboration on the bench.
Experience & Qualifications
Before entering the legal profession, Judge Turner served as a police officer with the Lawton Police Department. He was certified by the Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education & Training (C.L.E.E.T.), graduating first in the Southwest Oklahoma C.L.E.E.T. academy class in October 1982.
He later earned a Bachelor of Accounting degree, cum laude, from Cameron University in 1992, followed by his Juris Doctor, With Distinction, from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1995, where he graduated in the top 25% of his class. During law school, Judge Turner was employed with the Cleveland County District Attorney's Office, prosecuting his first two jury trials under supervision of the district attorney.
After graduating, Judge Turner moved to Kay County where he served as an Assistant District Attorney, prosecuting criminal cases for Kay and Noble Counties. His primary responsibility was to serve as lead prosecutor for drug and alcohol related cases, supervising investigators employed by the North Central Oklahoma Drug Task Force.
Lee Turner went into private practice, first with the law firm of Boettcher, Ryan & Martin (1997–1999), then as founding partner of Bandy and Turner, P.C. (1999), followed by Turner and Burlie, P.C. (2000). Judge Turner and Jim Devinney formed the Devinney and Turner Law Firm, P.C. in 2003, which grew to include nine legal assistants, a third staff attorney, and a second office in Stillwater. Judge Turner served as co-managing partner until June 1, 2012, when he joined the judiciary.
A Lifetime of Service
From law enforcement to the courtroom to the bench, Judge Turner has spent his career serving the people of Kay and Noble Counties.
Police Officer
Began career in public service with the Lawton Police Department. Graduated first in the Southwest Oklahoma C.L.E.E.T. academy class.
Education
B.S. in Accounting from Cameron University, cum laude. Juris Doctor with high distinction from the University of Oklahoma College of Law.
Assistant District Attorney
Served as Assistant District Attorney for Kay and Noble Counties, leading prosecution of drug and alcohol cases as head of the North Central Oklahoma Drug Task Force.
Attorney & Managing Partner
Co-founded the Devinney and Turner Law Firm, growing it to include three attorneys, nine legal assistants, and offices in Ponca City and Stillwater.
District Judge
Appointed Special Judge in 2012. Elected District Judge in 2018, re-elected in 2022. Now serving as Chief Judge of the 8th Judicial District — 14 years of proven, steady leadership for Kay and Noble Counties.
Family Life
Judge Turner was born in Portales, New Mexico in 1957. Judge Turner is an "Okie" by heritage. His father, Grady M. Turner, was originally raised in the Chickasha area and joined the U.S. Navy in 1942, serving in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II and as part of the United States post-war occupation force in Japan.
Judge Turner's mother, Joy M. Storie, was born in Sulphur, Oklahoma and raised in the Altus area before moving to Portales, New Mexico, where Judge Turner's grandfather, L.E. Storie, pastored the Landmark Missionary Baptist Church. Judge Turner's parents met at a church service and married, eventually settling in Lawton, Oklahoma.
Judge Turner and his wife, Kim, have lived in Ponca City since 1995. Kim is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Together, they have raised four children and are proud grandparents. They have been active members of Northeast Baptist Church since 2009, where Judge Turner has served in various leadership and volunteer roles.
“I am committed to upholding the law fairly, firmly, and impartially. It would be an honor to continue serving our community.”
District Judge Lee Turner
Fair • Firm • Impartial • Experienced
Kay and Noble Counties deserve a judge with a proven track record. Help return Judge Turner to the bench.