James R. Winchester
2000 — Current
| Case | Weight | Summary | Vote | OCPA Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Case
Douglas v. Cox Retirement Properties, Inc.
2013
|
Score
30 |
Summary
Court struck down the Comprehensive Lawsuit Reform Act of 2009 in its entirety under the auspices of the single-subject rule. |
Vote
Dissent
|
Position
dissent
|
|
Case
Strickland v. Stephens Production Co.
2018
|
Score
10 |
Summary
Court struck down a provision in the Oklahoma Administrative Workers’ Compensation Act as a special law. |
Vote
Majority
|
Position
dissent
|
|
Case
Gibby v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.
2017
|
Score
10 |
Summary
Court struck down a provision of the Oklahoma Administrative Workers’ Compensation Act (forfeiture for missing appointments) as violating the “adequate remedy” clause of the Oklahoma Constitution. |
Vote
Dissent
|
Position
dissent
|
|
Case
Mullendore v. Mercy Hospital Ardmore
2019
|
Score
10 |
Summary
Court overturned the decision of the Administrative Law Judge in a workers’ comp case, totally reversing the standard of review in the process. |
Vote
Dissent
|
Position
dissent
|
|
Case
Maxwell v. Sprint PCS
2016
|
Score
10 |
Summary
Court invalidated two sections of the Oklahoma Administrative Workers’ Compensation Act under the theories of due process and the rule against special laws. |
Vote
Dissent
|
Position
dissent
|
|
Case
Torres v. Seaboard Foods, LLC
2016
|
Score
10 |
Summary
Court struck down the 180 day provision of the Oklahoma Administrative Workers’ Compensation Act as a violation of due process. |
Vote
Concurrence
|
Position
dissent
|
|
Case
John v. Saint Francis Hospital, Inc.
2017
|
Score
10 |
Summary
Court struck down the “affidavit of merit” law. |
Vote
Majority
|
Position
dissent
|
|
Case
League of Women Voters of Oklahoma v. Ziriax
2020
|
Score
5 |
Summary
Court used a rule of civil procedure to invalidate Oklahoma’s requirement that mail-in ballots be notarized. |
Vote
Dissent
|
Position
dissent
|
|
Case
Prescott v. Oklahoma Capitol Preservation Commission
2015
|
Score
5 |
Summary
Court forced the removal of the Ten Commandments statue from the Oklahoma Capitol, claiming it violated Oklahoma’s unconstitutional Blaine Amendment. |
Vote
Majority
|
Position
dissent
|
|
Case
Oklahoma Call for Reproductive Justice v. Drummond (Oklahoma Call I)
2023
|
Score
5 |
Summary
Court read a limited right to abortion in the Oklahoma Constitution and struck down one of two laws protecting life. |
Vote
Majority
|
Position
dissent
|
|
Case
Oklahoma Call for Reproductive Justice v. State (Oklahoma Call II)
2023
|
Score
5 |
Summary
Relying on Oklahoma Call I, the Court invalidated two more pro-life laws. |
Vote
Majority
|
Position
dissent
|
|
Case
Oklahoma Call for Reproductive Justice v. Drummond (Oklahoma Call III)
2023
|
Score
5 |
Summary
Again relying on Oklahoma Call I, the Court directed trial court to enjoin (prohibit from going into effect) three laws that regulate abortion. |
Vote
Majority
|
Position
dissent
|
|
Case
Hunsucker v. Fallin
2017
|
Score
5 |
Summary
Struck down legislation designed to reduce drunk driving as violative of the single-subject rule. |
Vote
Dissent
|
Position
dissent
|
|
Case
State Chamber of Oklahoma v. Cobbs
2024
|
Score
10 |
Summary
Court allowed a ballot measure to move forward that would raise the state’s minimum wage in direct contradiction to its precedent. |
Vote
Majority
|
Position
dissent
|
|
Case
Oklahoma Schools Risk Management Trust v. McAlester Public Schools
2019
|
Score
10 |
Summary
Court’s majority rewrote an insurance contract in order to help the plaintiff recover from what was an uninsured loss. |
Vote
Dissent
|
Position
dissent
|
|
Case
Stricklen v. Multiple Injury Trust Fund
2024
|
Score
30 |
Summary
In this case, the Court’s majority redefined the word “subsequent” in the statute to ensure the Plaintiff had a right to claim damages. |
Vote
Not Voting
|
Position
dissent
|
|
Case
Hayes v. Penkoski
2024
|
Score
15 |
Summary
In this case, the majority vacated a protective order granted against a street preacher for exercising his First Amendment rights. |
Vote
Majority
|
Position
majority
|
|
Case
Beason v. I.E. Miller Services, Inc.
2019
|
Score
30 |
Summary
Court struck down a tort reform law capping noneconomic damages calling it a ‘special law.’ |
Vote
Dissent
|
Position
dissent
|
|
Case
Ritter v. State
2022
|
Score
10 |
Summary
Court struck down a law that prohibited schools from instituting mask mandates on kids absent special circumstances. |
Vote
Majority
|
Position
dissent
|
|
Case
Drummond v. Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board
2024
|
Score
5 |
Summary
Court prohibited a Catholic charter school from opening relying, in part, on Oklahoma’s unconstitutional Blaine Amendment. |
Vote
Majority
|
Position
dissent
|