From 1984 to 1994 , he 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 Judge Taylor ordered a change of venue from Oklahoma City . 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 "
Oklahoma City bombing
Oklahoma City bombing
Steven W. Taylor