District Attorney

Jack Thorp

Biography

Jack Thorp grew up in Catoosa, Oklahoma, where he dreamed of becoming a public servant and fighting crime.  Following his graduation from Catoosa High School and a year of college, Jack enlisted in the U.S. Navy where, following boot camp, he was assigned to USS Doyle (FFG-39), an Oliver Hazard Perry class Guided Missile Frigate, homeported in Mayport, Florida.  Jack had a very successful tour of duty, which included service during Operations Just Cause, Desert Shield, and Desert Storm.  Thorp received commendations from Commander Naval Surface Forces, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group 12.  Thorp was also awarded the good conduct medal, sea service deployment ribbon, M14 and .45 caliber expert medals, as well as Law Enforcement Special Operations Ribbon.  Thorp was selected multiple times for Sailor of the Month and Sailor of the Quarter.

Upon his honorable discharge, Jack attended the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas.  At Ozarks, he excelled academically, receiving multiple scholarships and numerous awards.  Thorp was a 4-time winner of the Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. Award, the Bush Family Scholarship, and the Jack Stephens Scholarship.  Jack was placed on the academic honor roll and President’s list all four years of his undergraduate study.  Thorp was a finalist and runner-up for the top Ozarks student award, The Hurie.  Thorp was also named Who’s Who of American Colleges and Universities for 1995 and 1996.  In 1996, Thorp accepted inclusion into the academic honor society, Alpha Chi.  Thorp graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science.

In 1996, Thorp accepted a scholarship to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville School of Law.  Thorp thrived in law school, where he focused his attention on Criminal and Constitutional law, Evidence, and Criminal Procedure.  During his law school attendance, Thorp interned with the Prosecuting Attorney for the Fifth Judicial District, David L. Gibbons.  Thorp participated in trial advocacy programs, with a focus on trial litigation, including the attainment of his Rule XV license, which allowed him to litigate in the Fifth District under supervision.  In 1999, Thorp received his Juris Doctorate degree and was accepted before the Arkansas Bar, Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Upon passing the Arkansas Bar, Thorp was appointed Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in the Fifth District of Arkansas.  He was subsequently appointed Fifth District Drug Task Force Attorney and served a short stint as the Director of the Drug Task Force.  Thorp immediately specialized in the prosecution of drug crimes, primarily handling cases involving illegal drug distribution and methamphetamine manufacturing.  Thorp also specialized in drug asset forfeiture.  During his six-year tenure, Thorp tried 35 jury trials in the Courts of Franklin, Johnson, and Pope Counties, as well as in the Federal Court of the Western District of Arkansas.

In 2005, Jack decided it was time to come home to Oklahoma.  After a brief stint as an Assistant District Attorney for the 10th District and acceptance by the Oklahoma Bar, Thorp was hired as an Assistant District Attorney in Tulsa County.  During his five-year tenure in Tulsa County, Thorp was named “Top Gun” prosecutor in 2006, 2008, 2009, and 2010.  Thorp quickly rose through the ranks to become a Felony Team Captain, specializing in violent crimes, drug crimes, and crimes against children.  During his time in Tulsa County, Thorp tried some of the most significant cases on the Tulsa docket.  In 2010, Thorp accepted the appointment as First Assistant District Attorney for District 27 (Adair, Cherokee, Sequoyah, and Wagoner Counties).

Jack’s service as First Assistant District Attorney for District 27 was exemplary.  He was responsible for supervision of the offices in Stilwell, Sallisaw, Tahlequah, and Wagoner.  He was the Chief Major Crimes prosecutor and Chief Administrator for up to 63 employees and 14 attorneys.  District 27 remains one of the largest DA’s Offices in Oklahoma.  During his tenure as First Assistant and District Attorney, Thorp has tried some of the most notorious criminals and cases in District 27 history.  In 2017, Brian Kuester resigned as District Attorney and Governor Mary Fallin appointed Jack Thorp as District Attorney.  At that time Governor Fallin said,

“Jack Thorp has been a prosecutor for nearly 20 years

and has extensive jury trial and courtroom experience in

prosecuting complex cases.  He is mindful of the critical

nature of public service, and has exhibited a dedication to

serving the public.  He will serve the people of Adair, Cherokee,

Sequoyah and Wagoner counties well as district attorney.”

And outgoing District Attorney Brian Kuester said:

“He has played a critical and vital role in creating a District

Attorney’s office in which the people of this district can place

their trust.  His reputation is impeccable among the honest,

law-abiding people who know him.”

From 2017 to present, Jack Thorp has served as District 27 District Attorney.  He has been featured on several “true crime” television shows, including, Snapped, Murder Calls, Swamp Murders, and Homicide for the Holidays.”  In 2020, Thorp was the recipient of the David L. Moss Award, recognizing him as Oklahoma’s District Attorney of the Year.  He has built a District Attorney’s Office that the citizens of Adair, Cherokee, Sequoyah, and Wagoner Counties can be proud of.  At this time, the attorneys who are employed in District 27 have in excess of 300 years of legal experience.  In the most recent audit performed by the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector there were zero exceptions or findings.  Jack Thorp is one of the most experienced prosecutors in the State of Oklahoma.  He has tried 102 felony jury trials, 43 of which were for first-degree murder.

Along with his work as District Attorney, Thorp has also served as an adjunct professor for criminal justice at Northeastern State University for seven years.  Of the twenty-three years as a prosecutor, Thorp has been an adjunct professor at various colleges and universities for nineteen years.  Thorp has also lectured at the National Crimes Against Children Conference, National Crimes Against Women Conference, District Attorneys Council, Tulsa Bar Association, and numerous other civic or municipal organizations.  Thorp has attended training for Cross Examination at the National Advocacy Center and Hate Crimes at the Simon Wiesenthal Center.  Thorp has also received certifications from the National District Attorney’s Association for Office Management, Prosecuting Homicides, Evidence and “The Executive Course.”

Jack is married to Joy Pittman Thorp and they live in the Wagoner County portion of Broken Arrow.  Joy is the former Senior Deputy Attorney General, supervising the criminal justice division of the Attorney General's Office, and has recently accepted appointment as First Assistant District Attorney for the 12th Prosecutorial District.  Jack and Joy are members of Our Finest Hour Church in Coweta, Oklahoma.

First Assistant District Attorney

Eric Jordan

Mission Statement

The mission of the District Attorney's Office is to lead our communities in the fight for justice and public safety through the fair, equal, efficient, and vigorous prosecution of criminals and protection of victim's rights.  We envision that our office, through cooperative efforts with the public and other agencies tasked with public safety, will provide a criminal justice system in which all of the citizens in our District can hold their trust.