Thad Balkman

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Thad H. Balkman
Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
from the 45 district
In office
2000–2006
Preceded byWallace Collins
Succeeded byWallace Collins

Thad H. Balkman (born October 23, 1971) is an American politician, lawyer and judge.

Early life and education

Balkman grew up as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with his family in Long Beach, California, attending Long Beach Polytechnic High School.[1][2] His home in Long Beach was the house used as the titular character's home in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.[3] He attended Brigham Young University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in political science in 1994. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1998.[4][5]

Legal career

In 1998, Balkman started his legal career at the Stanley Ward Law Offices in Norman, a small private practice where he practiced employment law.[6] Balkman then served as General Counsel for the Association of Professional Oklahoma Educators from 2001 to 2002.[7] Balkman continued his legal career with Lee and Wells Law Firm where he continued to practice employment law. He then worked as General Counsel and Vice President of External Relations for Phoenix Motorcars, an electric vehicle startup company. In that capacity he testified before the United States Senate Energy Committee.[8][9] He worked for the law firm that represented 1996 Republican candidate Steve Byas, who sued incumbent Oklahoma House of Representatives member Wallace Collins for libel.[2][10] Balkman campaigned for Eric Hawkins in 1998, who lost to Collins.[11] In September 2023, The American Law Institute announced that Balkman had been elected to the Institute. [12]

State legislature

Balkman won the Republican nomination for District 45 of the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2000, running against John English and Randy Boyd,[13] and defeated Collins in the general election.[11] Balkman faced Collins for a second time in 2002, and retained his seat.[2][14] Two years later, he faced Estelle Cash, and won a third legislative term.[15] Balkman was subsequently named leader of the House Republican Caucus and the Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Health and Social Services.[16] Balkman was a member of the Conference Committee that wrote Oklahoma's 2003 Tort Reform law, and was appointed to serve as a member of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. He was voted out of office in 2006, and succeeded by Collins.[14]

Judicial career

In October 2013, Governor Mary Fallin appointed Balkman to the district court based in Cleveland County, where he succeeded justice Tom Lucas.[17][18] Balkman took office on November 1, 2013.[19][20] He won a full term on the bench in 2014 and a second term in 2018.[4] Balkman is the President of the Oklahoma Judges Association.[21]

In the biggest case of his career, he heard "the opioid trial", in which the State of Oklahoma sued the pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson, accusing them of pushing opioid drugs in the state. On August 26, 2019, Balkman found Johnson & Johnson responsible for creating a "public nuisance" under state law, saying that the company's "misleading marketing and promotion of opioids created a nuisance" and that it "compromised the health and safety of thousands of Oklahomans."[1] He ordered the company to pay a fine of $572 million. It was the first such judgment in the nation. The company said they will appeal.[22]

He was awarded the "Sunshine Award" by Freedom of Information Oklahoma for allowing press and cameras into the courtroom during "the opioid trial."[23]

On November 9, 2021, the Oklahoma Supreme Court overturned Balkman's verdict against Johnson & Johnson in a 5-1 decision.[24] The Court's opinion states that Balkman "erred in extending [Oklahoma's] public nuisance statute to the manufacturing, marketing, and selling of prescription opioids." The Court's ruling also notes that Balkman "[stepped] into the shoes of the legislature by creating and funding government programs designed to address social and health issues" in an "unprecedented expansion of public nuisance law."[25] While still involved in litigation with other states, it is now unlikely Johnson & Johnson will pay any money to the State of Oklahoma for its past manufacturing and marketing of opioids.

Community service

Balkman was the executive director of the Oklahoma 100 Ideas project in 2007–2008.[26] He co-founded the Oklahoma branch of the Brigham Young University Management Society in 2009.[27] He later became executive director of the Oklahoma Lawyers Association.[28] In May 2020 Balkman was a speaker at the Oklahoma National Day of Prayer Event.[29] Balkman served as the Boy Scouts of America Assistant Scoutmaster and Chairman of the Sooner District.[30] He was also inducted in the Child Advocates Hall of Fame by the Oklahoma Institute of Child Advocacy.[31]

Personal life

Balkman is married to Amy, with whom he has five children.[17][19] He also served as a bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[20]

References

  1. ^ a b Drash, Wayne (August 26, 2019). "From Ferris Bueller to opioid trial: A judge's wild ride into history". CNN. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Gaddie, Ronald Keith (2004). Born to Run: Origins of the Political Career. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 89–99. ISBN 9780742519282.
  3. ^ Drash, Wayne (August 26, 2019). "From Ferris Bueller to opioid trial: A judge's wild ride into history". CNN. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Balkman to seek re-election as county district judge". The Norman Transcript. April 8, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  5. ^ "Updates". BYU Magazine. Brigham Young University. 2014. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  6. ^ "Mormon News for WE 16Apr00: LDS Lawyer in Oklahoma Running for".
  7. ^ "Business People".
  8. ^ Mitchell, Josh (17 September 2008). "U.S. Makers of Electric Cars Push for Consumer Tax Credits - WSJ". Wall Street Journal.
  9. ^ "Full Committee Hearing: To receive testimony on the current state of vehicles powered by the electric grid and the prospects for wider deployment in the near future (Hearing Room SD-366)". 16 September 2008.
  10. ^ English, Paul (December 3, 1998). "Norman Lawmaker Urged to Resign". The Oklahoman. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  11. ^ a b "Thad Balkman". The Oklahoman. August 6, 2000. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  12. ^ "Members Elected September 2023".
  13. ^ Singleterry, Wayne (August 20, 2000). "Tuesday's elections part one of three Republican presence gaining". The Oklahoman. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  14. ^ a b Mock, Jennifer (July 15, 2006). "District 45 incumbent seeks fourth term". The Oklahoman. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  15. ^ Rabe, Josh (October 20, 2004). "Democrat challenges Norman incumbent". The Oklahoman. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  16. ^ "Profiles". BYU Magazine. Brigham Young University. 2005. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  17. ^ a b Cannon, Jane Glenn (October 5, 2013). "Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin appoints new judge for Cleveland County". The Oklahoman. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  18. ^ "Former legislator Thad Balkman hired to county district judge post". The Norman Transcript. October 4, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  19. ^ a b "Former state representative sworn in as judge". The Oklahoman. November 2, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  20. ^ a b Adkisson, Shana (November 13, 2013). "Judge Thad Balkman settling into new job". The Moore American. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  21. ^ "District judges sworn in for new terms".
  22. ^ Howard, Jacqueline; Drash, Wayne (August 26, 2019). "Oklahoma wins case against drugmaker in historic opioid triall". CNN. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  23. ^ "FOI Oklahoma announces 2019 award recipients to be honored Oct. 2 - the City Sentinel".
  24. ^ Hoffman, Jan (9 November 2021). "Oklahoma Supreme Court Throws Out $465 Million Opioid Ruling Against J.&J". The New York Times.
  25. ^ "OSCN Case Details".
  26. ^ "'100 Ideas' book to be released Tuesday". 25 January 2008.
  27. ^ Hinton, Carla (April 18, 2009). "Chapter has ethics as focus". The Oklahoman. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  28. ^ "Updates". BYU Magazine. Brigham Young University. 2010. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  29. ^ "National Day of Prayer".
  30. ^ "2014 Board Directory".
  31. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-05-08. Retrieved 2020-05-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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