Judicial Swearing In Ceremony

January 20th

On the morning of January 20th , all District Judges for Tulsa and Pawnee Counties were sworn into office to begin their new 4 year terms, hosted by Presiding District Judge Doug Drummond. In the afternoon, a special ceremony was held in the Carlos Chappelle Memorial Courtroom (Room 605) for the families, friends, and members of the bar for the swearing in of the newest members of the bench. Thomas Guten, son of District Judge David Guten

Right: Thomas Guten, son of District Judge David Guten and Maura Guten leading the Pledge of Allegiance, standing in front of Judge Doug Drummond and Maura Guten, began the afternoon proceedings by leading the assembled judges and other attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance. Taking their Oath of Office in the afternoon proceedings were: District Judge Kevin Gray, District Judge David Guten and Special District Judge Travis Horton. Following the administration of their Oaths, TCBA President Philip Hixon presented each new judge with their gavels.

District Judge Kevin Gray

Judge Gray is a lifelong Tulsan. The son of Jim and Becky Gray, Judge Gray is the oldest of three boys. Judge Gray has been married to his wife, Michelle, for 17 years. They are the proud parents of three girls – Sophie, Audrey, and Chloe. Judge Gray is a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School, and he earned his bachelor's degree and Juris Doctor from the University of Tulsa. He also earn his Master of Public Service and Administration from the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. Throughout his career, Judge Gray worked in the non-profit sector, in construction, and on campaigns before joining the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office in 2011. Judge Gray worked there for 11 years before being elected District Judge in 2022. Anyone who has been to his office knows that Judge Gray has a passion for baseball and baseball cards. Judge Gray’s love of aviation and airplanes led to his service on the board of the Tulsa Air and Space Museum, and his work to research and locate the Tulsamerican, the last B-24 bomber built in Tulsa during WWII. Judge Gray and his family share their home with two dogs, two bunnies, and a chameleon.

District Judge David Guten

Judge Guten started his legal career in 2003 as a prosecutor in the Tulsa County DA’s office before moving into private practice where he focused his representation around the needs of veterans and service members over a wide range of practice areas. In 2019, he was appointed to the bench as one of our Special District Judges assigned to the criminal division, where he presided over nearly all of the criminal dockets handled by our special judges.

He earned his bachelors degree from Oklahoma City University, and his juris doctorate from the Tulsa College of Law. He is co-chairman of the Tulsa County Bar Association’s Military & Veteran’s Law Committee, and a member of the OBA’s Military Law Committee. He’s also on the Board of Directors for one of the local schools here in Tulsa.

Additionally, Judge Guten has served for the last 18 years with the United States Air Force Reserve, and holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate for the 137th Special Operations Wing in Oklahoma City. He’s married to his high school sweetheart, Maura, and they’re the proud parents to 4 boys and 1 dog.

Special District Judge Travis Horton

Judge Horton grew up in Edmond, Oklahoma where he graduated from Edmond Memorial High School. He is a graduate of Northeastern State University and the Oklahoma College of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctorate.

Over the last two decades, he has worked as an Assistant District Attorney for the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office, as in-house counsel for one of Oklahoma’s largest construction companies, and the last eight years in private practice with a focus on family law and criminal law.

Judge Horton is married to Stephanie Horton, whom he met in while they were both attending law school. They reside in Tulsa with their two teenage children, Mia and Max Horton.