50 Making a Difference profile: April Sellers White, Creek County

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Sep 26, 2008

After nearly 25 years as the first and only female district judge, April Sellers White is proud that the people of Creek County - both young and old - not only think having a woman judge is possible, but is normal and good for the people of the county.

Entering the legal profession was a natural fit for White, whose father as well as several other family members were attorneys. After graduating from Washington University in St. Louis, she worked as an intern at her father's law firm while pursuing her law degree at the University of Tulsa College of Law. Upon graduation, she went to work full-time for the firm, advancing to president before leaving in 1983 to start her own private practice. Later that same year, White was appointed special judge for Creek County.

In 1986, she was elected to her first of six terms as associate district judge of Creek County. In this current role, White's duties include presiding over criminal jury trials, domestic cases, protective orders, adoptions, weddings, child-support enforcement and traffic cases. From 1987-'94, she also was appointed to the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals - Emergency Appellate Division to assist in alleviating a backlog of cases.

"While many jurists believe their duty is to simply dispense justice, Judge White has continually gone above and beyond the call of duty with her work with children and family issues," said Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb.

White is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association, American Bar Association and Creek County Bar Association, where she formerly served as president and secretary-treasurer. Since the mid-'80s, she has participated with the Oklahoma Judicial Conference in various roles, including currently serving as co-chair of the Judges Helping Judges Committee.

White chaired the Creek County Juvenile Justice Task Force for 15 years and the Creek County Mental Health Solutions Committee for 14 years as well as served on legislative committees studying adoption law changes and juvenile mental health systems and service problems. Since 1996, White has served on the State Post Adjudication Review Advisory Board, serving as chair from 2002-2004.

She also volunteers her time at the Fleming Center, which provides child care for babies of students. She is a member and past board member of the Sapulpa Kiwanis and is active with the First United Methodist Church of Sapulpa.

In 2006, she received the United Methodist Women's Distinguished Service Award. Her other honors include being named the Outstanding Judge of 2003 by the Oklahoma chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse. In 2000, she received the Champion for Children Award by the Foster Care Association of Oklahoma Inc., the Rape Crisis Project Award by Call Rape Foundation of Tulsa, and the Community Service Award from Sapulpa Public Schools. The Oklahoma State Game Rangers' Association named White the Outstanding Wildlife Judge of the Year in 1986. While in law school, White chaired the Rape Crisis Project, which was honored in 1975 as the most outstanding law student project in the nation by the Law Student Division of the American Bar Association.

White said the most important influences in her life are her faith, her parents, Chief Justice Alma Wilson and Barbara Jordan.

About April:

Birthplace: Norman, Okla.

Children: Barrie Sellers White, 17

First job: Baby-sitting

Dream job: "My dream job has been associate district judge for Creek County, particularly the opportunity to handle the children's cases for over 16 years. My next dream job is teaching courses at the college level."

Hobbies: Reading, singing and making hats

Favorite type of food: Mexican

Favorite type of music: Everything except rap

Favorite vacation spot: San Juan Islands, Wash.