Former Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Dies

SAND SPRINGS, Okla. (AP) -- Funeral services are pending for a retired Oklahoma Supreme Court justice who died Thursday.

Robert D. Simms was 81 years old.

Simms was born and raised in Sand Springs and graduated in 1943 from Sand Springs High School.

He received his law degree from the University of Tulsa in 1950 and was elected to the Tulsa County attorney position in 1953.

Simms served as the county's chief prosecutor until early 1962, when he was appointed as a Tulsa County district judge.

He spent a year on the state Court of Criminal Appeals before he was appointed to the Oklahoma Supreme Court in 1972.

Simms was the court's chief justice during 1985 and 1986. He retired in October 1999 after nearly 38 years on the bench.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia; son Robert Simms Junior and two grandchildren.