{{Short description|United States Attorney}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2018}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Cathy Stocker | image = | office1 = | president1 = | term_start1 = | term_end1 = 2010 | predecessor1 = | successor1 = | birth_name = | birth_place = | birth_date = | death_place = | party = Republican | education = University of Oklahoma College of Law }}
'''Cathy Stocker''' is a former District Attorney for Blaine, Canadian, Garfield, Grant and Kingfisher counties in Oklahoma for 28 years before retiring in 2010, and a former member of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Former District Attorney Cathy Stocker appointed to Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board |work=Yahoo News |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/former-district-attorney-cathy-stocker-100149086.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022 |title=Stitt taps longtime prosecutor for Pardon and Parole Board |work=KFOR |url=https://kfor.com/news/local/stitt-taps-longtime-prosecutor-for-pardon-and-parole-board/}}</ref>
== Career == As district attorney, Stocker served on a task force that developed "various projects to increase awareness of domestic violence issues, to improve enforcement and prosecution of domestic violence laws and to provide services to those who suffer from domestic violence."<ref>{{Cite news |date=2010 |title=D.A.'s office works to stave off domestic violence |work=Enid News & Eagle |url=https://www.enidnews.com/news/local_news/d-a-s-office-works-to-stave-off-domestic-violence/article_e8abe072-3a31-57ce-a13f-9a20d28ac971.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406000237/https://www.enidnews.com/news/local_news/d-a-s-office-works-to-stave-off-domestic-violence/article_e8abe072-3a31-57ce-a13f-9a20d28ac971.html |archive-date=6 April 2022 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Stocker and her staff "implemented a domestic violence prosecution program in Canadian and Garfield Counties" and also "implemented the Garfield County Drug Court."
She was "a founding member of the Garfield County Child Advocacy Council" and "an appointed member of the Oklahoma Ethics Commission," serving as chair multiple times.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2002 |title=Stitt Appoints Former District Attorney To State Pardon & Parole Board |work=News 9 |url=https://www.news9.com/story/62461de7ab6a457d91e1de84/stitt-appoints-former-district-attorney-to-state-pardon--parole-board}}</ref> Stocker was the District Attorney during the Saundra Kay Medlin case, which was later overturned. Medlin argued battered woman syndrome, was sentenced to four years, but was later exonerated.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2002 |title=Court overturns woman's conviction in husband's death |work=The Oklahoman |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2002/05/17/court-overturns-womans-conviction-in-husbands-death/62094636007/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2 May 2001 |title=Woman gets 4 years in husband's death |work=The Oklahoman |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2001/05/02/woman-gets-4-years-in-husbands-death/62148525007/}}</ref> At the time, Stocker said "her office was 'ready to vigorously pursue [Medlin's] case.'"<ref>{{Cite news |last=Doucette |first=Bob |date=17 June 1999 |title=Jury's Out on Spouse's Claim Abuse Defense Sees Limited Success in Criminal Cases |work=The Oklahoman |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1999/06/17/jurys-out-on-spouses-claim-abuse-defense-sees-limited-success-in-criminal-cases/62238667007/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406000618/https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1999/06/17/jurys-out-on-spouses-claim-abuse-defense-sees-limited-success-in-criminal-cases/62238667007/ |archive-date=6 April 2022 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2007, Stocker’s office protested "the early release of 19 of the 22 inmates with convictions in her district seeking clemency from the state Pardon and Parole Board."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rains |first=Cass |date=2007 |title=DA to protest parole for killers |work=Enid News & Eagle |url=https://www.enidnews.com/news/local_news/da-to-protest-parole-for-killers/article_dd718eb5-d0b7-5228-b3e2-a30076bed510.html}}</ref>
In March 2022, Stocker was chosen by Governor Kevin Stitt for the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board. Stocker resigned from her position on the Oklahoma Ethics Commission, to take the parole board appointment.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2002 |title=Former District Attorney Cathy Stocker appointed to Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board |work=The Oklahoman |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2022/04/01/former-district-attorney-cathy-stocker-appointed-oklahoma-pardon-parole-board/7234770001/}}</ref> She replaced Kelly Doyle, who resigned from the parole board the previous month.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Stitt Appoints Former District Attorney To State Pardon & Parole Board |work=News 9 |url=https://www.news9.com/story/62461de7ab6a457d91e1de84/stitt-appoints-former-district-attorney-to-state-pardon--parole-board}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Clay |first=Nolan |date=1 April 2022 |title=Former District Attorney Cathy Stocker appointed to Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board |work=The Oklahoman |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2022/04/01/former-district-attorney-cathy-stocker-appointed-oklahoma-pardon-parole-board/7234770001/}}</ref> Stocker was the only woman on the board.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pope |first=Anna |title=Former state prosecutor appointed to Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board |work=KOSU |url=https://www.kosu.org/politics/2022-04-04/former-state-prosecutor-appointed-to-oklahoma-pardon-and-parole-board?ct=t(EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_KOSU_Daily_04042022)&mc_cid=7935d4850c&mc_eid=ba79188045}}</ref>
At her first pardon and parole board hearing, Stocker did not participate in voting.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 April 2022 |title=As makeup of parole board shifts, members question policy |work=Tulsa Public Radio |url=https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-regional/2022-04-11/as-makeup-of-parole-board-shifts-members-question-parole-policy}}</ref> In June 2023, Stocker voted against clemency for Richard Glossip, an inmate on death row<ref name=OK-death-row>{{Cite web| url = https://oklahoma.gov/doc/offender-info/death-row/inmates-sentenced-to-death.html| title = Inmates Sentenced to Death| access-date = June 9, 2022| author = Oklahoma Department of Corrections| quote = 267303 - Glossip, Richard E.| archive-date = April 7, 2023| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230407212232/https://oklahoma.gov/doc/offender-info/death-row/inmates-sentenced-to-death.html| url-status = dead}}</ref> at Oklahoma State Penitentiary.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McGuigan |first=Darla Shelden and Patrick B. |date=2023-04-26 |title=Glossip denied clemency – attorneys file Unopposed Application for Stay of Execution |url=https://www.city-sentinel.com/community/glossip-denied-clemency-attorneys-file-unopposed-application-for-stay-of-execution/article_7d774350-e47b-11ed-83fc-fb6832889913.html |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=Oklahoma City Sentinel |language=en}}</ref> In July 2023, Stoker resigned from the board saying that her role was not a "good fit" with the rest of her life obligations.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2 OK Pardon and Parole Board members resign amid Glossip lawsuit |url=https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/2-ok-pardon-and-parole-board-members-resign-amid-glossip-lawsuit |access-date=2023-08-12 |website=2 News Oklahoma KJRH Tulsa |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bartlesville Radio » News » Buchanan Appointed to Pardon, Parole Board |url=http://bartlesvilleradio.com/pages/news/390312023/buchanan-appointed-to-pardonparole-board |access-date=2023-08-12 |website=Bartlesville Radio}}</ref>
== See also == * List of district attorneys by county * Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board * Richard Smothermon * Edward J. Konieczny * Larry Morris
== References == <references />
{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Stocker, Cathy}} Category:21st-century American lawyers Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:District attorneys in Oklahoma Category:Oklahoma Republicans Category:People from Garfield County, Oklahoma Category:University of Oklahoma College of Law alumni