Cauthron served as a
United States magistrate judge for the Western District of Oklahoma from 1986 to 1991. On February 7, 1991, Cauthron was nominated by President
George H. W. Bush to a new seat on the
United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma created by 104 Stat. 5089. She was confirmed by the
United States Senate on March 21, 1991, and received her commission on March 25, 1991. She served as Chief Judge from 2001 to 2008. She assumed
senior status on July 14, 2015. ==References==