Joseph Wilson Morris

Joseph Wilson Morris (April 28, 1922 – November 11, 2021) was an American attorney, arbitrator and United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. He was a partner in the Tulsa, Oklahoma law firm of Gable Gotwals. Early life and education Morris was born in Rice County, Kansas on April 28, 1922. He graduated from Reno Community High School in Nickerson, Kansas. He received an Artium Baccalaureus degree in political science from Washburn University in 1943. He received a Bachelor of Laws from the Washburn University School of Law in 1947 graduating first in his class and Order of the Coif. He received a Master of Laws from the University of Michigan Law School in 1948. Morris received a Doctor of Juridical Science from the same institution in 1955. In 1942, while a student at Washburn, Morris was initiated into the Kansas Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta. Morris was admitted to practice law in Kansas in 1947, in Oklahoma in 1949 and in Texas in 1978. Legal career Morris spent three years as an ensign in the United States Navy Reserve from 1943 to 1946. After receiving his Master of Laws he was a staff attorney with Shell Oil Company from 1948 to 1960. Subsequently, he was general counsel of Amerada Petroleum Corporation from 1960 to 1969. He was a vice president and associate general counsel for the Amerada Hess Corporation from 1969 to 1972. In 1972, Morris left Amerada Hess to serve as dean of the University of Tulsa College of Law from 1972 to 1974. Federal judicial service Morris was nominated by President Richard Nixon on March 19, 1974, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma vacated by Judge Orville Edwin Langley. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on April 5, 1974, and received his commission on April 12, 1974. He served as Chief Judge from 1975 to 1978. His service terminated on July 31, 1978, due to his resignation.