Attorney Neil West has announced his candidacy for District Judge in Judicial District 5, which includes Comanche, Stephens, Cotton, and Jefferson Counties. He is seeking the vacant Office 1 seat following the recent retirement of Judge Emmit Tayloe and pledges to serve the district with fairness, integrity, and respect for the rule of law.
West has called Lawton home for 29 years, having moved to the community to be closer to family. A graduate of Oklahoma City University School of Law, he earned his Juris Doctor in 1997 after working his way through college in retail and management — experiences he credits with shaping his strong work ethic and commitment to service.
Throughout his legal career, West has served in a variety of public roles, gaining experience on both sides of the courtroom. He has worked as Assistant City Attorney and City Prosecutor for the City of Lawton, Assistant District Attorney and Mental Health Coordinator for Comanche County, and currently serves as a public defender for the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System. In addition, he has managed a private civil and criminal law practice during separate periods of his career.
“As a judge, my responsibility would be to listen carefully, apply the law faithfully, and treat every person who enters the courtroom with dignity and respect,” West said. “A courtroom must be a place of balance and impartial justice.”
West has long been active in the Lawton community, serving in leadership roles with the American Cancer Society, March of Dimes, Lawton Community Theatre, McMahon Memorial Auditorium Authority, and Arts for All, Inc. He is also a Deacon at First Presbyterian Church, and a member of Southwest Pride Barbershop Chorus, Lawton/Cameron Civic Chorale, and the Lawton Philharmonic Chorus.
West and his wife, Lacy Reed-West, whom he met through their shared involvement in the arts community, reside in Lawton.
If elected, West said he will approach the bench with fairness, clarity, and a commitment to building trust within the community he serves.
