Articles
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Law & Principles
Justice delayed, denied due to McGirt
In July 2020, Crystal Marie Haworth walked into the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office covered in blood and admitted that she tried to cut off Leonard Brokeshoulder’s head, according to law enforcement officials.Ray Carter | March 31, 2022
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Law & Principles
Oklahoma judicial selection is fundamentally flawed
The American Founders believed legitimate government power comes from the people. They also believed all people—including those in government— are fallible.Trent England | March 29, 2022
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Law & Principles, Culture & the Family
Transgender athlete restriction wins strong approval
Only biological women would compete in female athletic events involving Oklahoma public schools or colleges under legislation that has won strong approval in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.Ray Carter | March 24, 2022
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Law & Principles
Judicial-nomination reform wins Oklahoma Senate approval
Legislation that would reform the state’s judicial nominating process has won easy approval in the Oklahoma Senate.Ray Carter | March 22, 2022
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Law & Principles
Post-McGirt, no tribal facilities to hold prisoners
Once a U.S. Supreme Court ruling effectively declared much of eastern Oklahoma is composed of tribal reservations, tribal governments became responsible for prosecuting many crimes committed by Indians against Indians on those reservation lands.Ray Carter | March 22, 2022
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Law & Principles
McGirt decision defunding courts, public safety
The U.S. Supreme Court’s McGirt v. Oklahoma decision, which created jurisdictional chaos in Oklahoma by effectively declaring that most of eastern Oklahoma remains Indian reservations, is indirectly defunding court systems and public-safety entities throughout much of the state, according to the Senate’s top budget official.Ray Carter | March 15, 2022
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Education, Law & Principles
Bureaucrats retain power under open-transfer law
When lawmakers voted last year to expand open-transfer opportunities, allowing families to more easily send children to school districts other than the one in which they reside, supporters thought the change would empower parents.Jonathan Small | March 13, 2022
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Law & Principles
Election ‘Zuckerbucks’ ban clears House
Due to concern about perceived influence on the outcome of elections, state lawmakers have voted to ban private entities from funding Oklahoma election expenses.Ray Carter | March 9, 2022
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Law & Principles
GOP lawmaker joins Democrats against election-security bill
A bill that would mandate investigation of potential voter fraud has advanced from the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Those voting “no” were mostly Democrats, but state Rep. Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, joined them in vocal opposition.Ray Carter | March 9, 2022
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Law & Principles
Senators ban union freeloading on state pension system
Employees of a teachers’ union who do not work for a public school would be banned from receiving state teachers’ retirement benefits tied to their time spent away from the school system, under a bill that has passed the Oklahoma Senate.Ray Carter | March 7, 2022