Oral Arguments Set in State Question Lawsuit

The Supreme Court of Oklahoma issued an order assuming original jurisdiction in a lawsuit questioning the validity of Justices appointed through the Judicial Nominating Commission after reforms were overwhelmingly adopted by the citizens of Oklahoma under State Question 752 in November. The Justices will hear an oral argument before the entire court on February 1, 2011 according to a Journal Entry filed in court today. Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, a Senate author of the SQ 752, has previously called on Governor Brad Henry to respect the wishes of the people and not appoint a Justice forwarded to him by a Judicial Nominating Commission that was not properly reconstituted as required by the state question.

Today calling for politics to be set aside, Jolley has called on both Governor Brad Henry and Governor-Elect Mary Fallin to refrain from selecting a new Supreme Court Justice until the validity of the Judicial Nominating Commissions’ actions can be determined by the full Court.

“It would be unfortunate for a Justice to be selected for this important position only to have that subsequent procedure declared void and casting a cloud over that Justice’s appointment. I ask Governor Henry and Governor-Elect Fallin to exercise patience and not rush to appoint a Justice until the court has had their oral arguments on February 1, at a minimum.”