FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2016

Governor Mary Fallin Appoints Ken Darby as District Attorney for Five Southwest Oklahoma Counties

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today announced she is appointing Ken Darby as district attorney for five southwest Oklahoma counties. He will replace John Wampler, who is retiring effective April 1.

Darby, of Duke, will take over as chief prosecutor for Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Kiowa and Tillman counties for the reminder of Wampler’s term, which expires in 2019.

“Ken Darby is the ideal choice to serve District 3,” said Fallin. “He has dedicated his career to serving the people of southwest Oklahoma as a prosecutor and municipal judge.”

Wampler had been Oklahoma’s longest-serving district attorney when he tendered his letter of resignation to the governor in February. He has served as chief prosecutor for District 3 for 26 years.

Wampler recommended Darby, who currently serves as his top assistant, to replace him.

Darby has 29 years of law enforcement experience. That includes 20 years as a prosecutor in District 3.

His law enforcement career began in 1979 as a trooper with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

Darby earned a law degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1989. He worked as a legal intern for the Cleveland County district attorney’s office while he was in school, then began his first stint at a prosecutor in District 3 in 1991.

Darby spent eight years as an assistant district attorney before moving into private practice with an Altus law firm for five years.

He rejoined Wampler’s staff in 2004, and has served as first assistant since 2007.

Darby also has served as a part-time municipal court judge in Altus since 2003.

###