College of Law: A Centennial History a book published in 2009 detailing the 100-year history of the OU law school. In April 2019 Governor Kevin Stitt appointed Justice Taylor to a nine-year term on the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the Oklahoma Senate confirmed the appointment in May 2019. Taylor is a board member of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. He also serves on the board of directors of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and is a past Chairman of the Oklahoma City National Memorial. He is Chairman of The Puterbaugh Foundation in McAlester, Oklahoma. In 2007, Oklahoma's centennial year, OKLAHOMA magazine named Justice Taylor as one of "100 Who Shaped Us" - a list of past and living Oklahomans who influenced the state's first 100 years. In 2009, Taylor received the highest recognition given to an Oklahoman, induction into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Judicial career From 1984 to 1994, Taylor served as Associate District Judge in the 18th Judicial District. In 1991 he was the first Associate District Judge ever to be elected President of the Oklahoma Judicial Conference. From 1994 to 2004, he served as Chief Judge of the 18th Judicial District, which encompasses Pittsburg and McIntosh Counties. In his over 20 years as a trial judge, he presided over more than 500 jury trials, including numerous murder trials. Most notably, he presided over the state trial of the Oklahoma City bombing case. That historic trial of 161 counts of first degree murder against Terry Nichols was conducted in McAlester, Oklahoma after a change of venue from Oklahoma City was ordered. Governor Brad Henry appointed Taylor to the Oklahoma Supreme Court in September 2004. He served a term as chief justice from January 2011 until January 2013. Oklahomans voted to retain him in the 2006 and 2010 general elections. Justice Taylor retired from the Supreme Court on December 31, 2016 after 33 years of judicial service. After his retirement and in recognition of his long public service, the Pittsburg County Court buildings in McAlester, Oklahoma were named "The Justice Steven W. Taylor Courthouse Complex". References 1949 births Living people Chief Justices of the Oklahoma Supreme Court County judges in Oklahoma Mayors of places in Oklahoma Oklahoma City bombing Oklahoma city council members People from McAlester, Oklahoma People from Henryetta, Oklahoma University of Oklahoma alumni University of Oklahoma College of Law alumni United States Marine Corps