Articles
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Judicial Reform, Law & Principles
Senators support judicial nominating transparency
A measure to bring Oklahoma’s judicial nominating process in line with the transparency requirements of many other states has won strong approval in the Oklahoma Senate.Ray Carter | March 10, 2020
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Judicial Reform, Law & Principles, Good Government
Lawmakers seek sunlight for Oklahoma judicial processes
The operations of the Oklahoma Supreme Court and the state’s Judicial Nominating Commission have long drawn criticism for excessive secrecy and lack of public transparency. Two bills that have cleared a Senate committee seek to address that problem.Ray Carter | February 25, 2020
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Judicial Reform, Law & Principles
Mandatory bar membership raises free-speech concerns
For decades, Oklahoma attorneys have not been allowed to practice law unless they join the Oklahoma Bar Association. Due to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling regarding free speech and the right of association, a Senate committee has voted to end that mandate.Ray Carter | February 25, 2020
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Judicial Reform
Critics denounce secrecy of Oklahoma judicial nominating process
Following a judicial bribery scandal in the 1960s, Oklahoma adopted a “Missouri plan” system in which an outside commission selects judicial nominees and the governor is barred from considering any other applicants.Ray Carter | December 26, 2019
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Judicial Reform
Conflict-of-interest concerns arise in judicial nomination
A member of the Judicial Nominating Commission was a financial contributor to the political campaign of a judge who applied with the JNC to fill a vacant Oklahoma Supreme Court seat, records show.Ray Carter | August 2, 2019
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Judicial Reform
Oklahoma added to ‘judicial hellhole’ top-10 list
The American Tort Reform Foundation (ATRF) has announced it now ranks Oklahoma among the nation’s 10 worst “judicial hellholes,” a jarring reversal after several years of progress.Ray Carter | July 29, 2019
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Judicial Reform
Gov. Stitt signs judicial reform bill
Gov. Kevin Stitt signed legislation Thursday that modernizes the district lines used to select Oklahoma Supreme Court nominees so district populations are roughly equal.Ray Carter | April 26, 2019
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Judicial Reform
Judicial redistricting headed to governor
Oklahoma lawmakers have sent a bill to Gov. Kevin Stitt's desk that would redraw judicial district lines.Ray Carter | April 17, 2019
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Judicial Reform
Judicial-selection reform clears Senate committee
Legislation making its way through the Oklahoma Legislature would reform and modernize the 1967-era geographical districts by which state Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals judges are appointed.Mike Brake | April 4, 2019
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Judicial Reform
Three important judicial reforms
Oklahoma’s Supreme Court district boundaries have not changed since the 1960s. While people have moved around, those lines have stayed the same for half a century. This isn’t merely unfair—it also hurts the quality of our judiciary for basic reasons described by James Madison.Trent England | January 30, 2018