NEWS
NORMAN, OKLA. – The University of Oklahoma College of Law has named Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice James R. Winchester as the 2026 recipient of the Eugene Kuntz Award.
The annual award recognizes professionals who have made significant contributions to oil, gas and natural resources law. Winchester will be honored in connection with the 2026 Eugene Kuntz Conference on Natural Resources Law and Policy, a continuing legal education event for energy law professionals at the Oklahoma City Convention Center on Friday, Nov. 6.
The conference, presented by OU College of Law and the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Energy and Natural Resources Law Section, attracts hundreds of attorneys, landmen and industry leaders from across the country. Named for Eugene Kuntz, former OU College of Law professor and dean, the event honors his legacy as author of a landmark treatise on oil, gas and natural resources law still cited in courts nationwide.
“We’re honored to award Justice Winchester the Eugene Kuntz Award,” said Anna Carpenter, Dean of the University of Oklahoma College of Law. “He has served Oklahoma as a distinguished and respected jurist.”
Appointed to the Oklahoma Supreme Court by Gov. Frank Keating in 2000, Winchester served as chief justice from January 2007 to December 2008. He has authored the majority opinion in many significant oil and gas cases. His opinions have addressed the Surface Damages Act, the habendum clause and implied covenants of the oil and gas lease, the ownership of equipment left on leased premises following lease termination, the jurisdiction of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, damages claims for saltwater disposal and induced seismicity, attorney fees in class-action royalty litigation, oilfield business disputes, and water rights. As a district judge, he also presided over numerous oil and gas disputes, including significant cases involving take-or-pay contracts, forced pooling, overriding royalty interests, the application of conservation regulation to leases of Indian lands, gas balancing disputes and class-action royalty litigation.
A Clinton native, Winchester earned his Bachelor of Arts from OU and his Juris Doctor from Oklahoma City University. He practiced law in western Oklahoma before becoming associate district judge for Caddo County in January 1983. Later that year, Gov. George Nigh appointed him district judge for the Sixth Judicial District at age 30, making him one of Oklahoma’s youngest district judges. He also served for two years as a U.S. administrative law judge in Oklahoma City and New Orleans.
Winchester’s honors include recognition as Outstanding State Trial Court Judge and the Justice Marian P. Opala Award for Lifetime Achievement in Law from Oklahoma City University. He also served as president of the Oklahoma Judicial Conference.
Colleagues, Family Reflect on Winchester:
Steven W. Taylor, retired chief justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court: “Through all the years that we worked together, there was a constant theme with Justice Winchester: a focused and disciplined commitment to the rule of law. His compass is set to true north when applying the law to the facts of the case before him. That personal drive has been with him throughout his long judicial service. He is a guardian of the judiciary and his ultimate mission is to ensure the public has confidence in the courts. Jim Winchester has lived his life every day with that mission as his North Star.”
Jill van Egmond, general counsel at the University of Central Oklahoma: “I am thrilled that Justice Winchester has been selected to receive this prestigious award. It has been an honor and a privilege to work alongside Justice Winchester for more than 10 years and to witness firsthand his integrity, wisdom, generosity and unwavering commitment to excellence. Truly great mentors do not simply show you a path and wish you luck. They walk it beside you, generously share their time and knowledge, and challenge you to pursue opportunities you never thought possible. Jim was that person for me. His guidance, belief and investment in my career have had a lasting impact on my life and I will always be grateful for it.”
Rosslyn Biggs, his niece, an associate professor in veterinary clinical sciences at Oklahoma State University: “My uncle, Justice James Winchester, has been a respected leader in Oklahoma’s legal profession and his community, demonstrating integrity, wisdom and a steadfast commitment to service. Beyond his professional accomplishments, he is known for his wonderful sense of humor, unwavering devotion to family and enthusiastic spirit for new experiences and adventures. His ability to balance distinguished leadership with a genuine love of life and family is something I have always admired.”
Conference Details
The 2026 Kuntz Conference will be held Friday, Nov. 6, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Oklahoma City Convention Center. Breakfast and continuing legal education sign-in begin at 8 a.m. A virtual option will be offered for those unable to attend in person. For details on the conference and registration, visit the Eugene Kuntz Conference website. For more information, email universityexperiences@ou.edu or phone 405-325-1701.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and healthcare needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
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The University of Oklahoma College of Law has named Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice James R. Winchester as the 2026 recipient of the Eugene Kuntz Award. The annual award recognizes professionals who have made significant contributions to oil, gas and natural resources law.
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