We are sad to announce the passing of The Honorable James H. Payne on December 2, 2025. After serving as a Magistrate Judge in the Eastern District of Oklahoma for many years, Judge Payne was appointed as a District Judge for the Eastern, Northern, and Western Districts of Oklahoma by President George W. Bush in 2001. In 2002, Judge Payne became Chief Judge of the Eastern District Court and remained Chief Judge until 2017. He took inactive senior status in 2020. He was a beloved figure in our courthouse and in the Muskogee community.