Governor Brad Henry appoints female federal prosecutor

Friday, March 25th 2005, 6:09 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Governor Brad Henry has appointed a federal prosecutor to serve on the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, making her the second woman in history to hold the post.

Arlene J. Johnson was formally sworn in Thursday. Johnson fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Reta Strubhar, the first woman on the Court of Criminal Appeals.

Johnson was criminal division chief for the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Western District of Oklahoma.

She pledged to try her best to contribute to the public trust, to the court and to a body of law that's fair.

Henry says he interviewed many applicants before making a decision on whom to choose.

He says not only is she a fine lawyer, but she's also a fine poet.

Henry says the Court of Criminal Appeals arguably is the most important court.