Oklahoma Supreme Court Decisions

Oklahoma is one of only two states that have divided the highest court into civil and criminal branches. The Oklahoma Supreme Court is the highest court in the state for civil matters, while the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals holds exclusive appellate jurisdiction over criminal cases under the Oklahoma Constitution. The Oklahoma Supreme Court has the authority to decide which court should hear an appeal if there is any uncertainty. Nine justices serve on the Oklahoma Supreme Court, while five justices serve on the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. The state legislature can change the size of the Court of Criminal Appeals but cannot change the size of the Supreme Court, which is set by the Oklahoma Constitution.

Both courts use an assisted appointment process for selecting justices, who serve six-year terms. Under Article VII of the Oklahoma Constitution, a candidate for justice must submit their name to the Oklahoma Judicial Nominating Commission. The Commission will provide the names of three candidates to the Governor of Oklahoma. Once the Governor chooses a justice, they will serve until the next general election, when they must win a retention election. The Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court will choose a candidate if the Governor does not make a decision within 60 days. The presiding judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals serves a two-year term and is selected by a vote of the other justices.

To be eligible to serve on the Supreme Court or the Court of Criminal Appeals, a candidate must be at least 30 years old and must have been a licensed practicing attorney or judge in Oklahoma for at least five years. They also must have been a registered voter in the judicial district that they represent for at least one year before pursuing this position. An active justice must maintain their certification as an attorney or judge throughout their tenure.

Browse Opinions From the Oklahoma Supreme Court
Recent Decisions From the Oklahoma Supreme Court
In the Matter of M.R.  
Date: April 23, 2024
 Citation: 2024 OK 28
Docket Numbers: 120910, Comp. w/120844, 121060

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma reviewed the termination of parental rights of Victoria Rodriguez and Everardo Rodriguez, Sr., parents of four children who were adjudicated deprived. The children were removed…

AMENDMENT OF RULES 1.260 AND 1.261 OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT RULES
Date: April 22, 2024
 Citation: 2024 OK 27
STATE ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION v. MARRS
Date: April 15, 2024
 Citation: 2024 OK 26
Docket Number: SCBD-7599
Fleig v. Landmark Construction Group  
Date: April 8, 2024
 Citation: 2024 OK 25
Docket Number: 119432

Justia Opinion Summary: The case revolves around a contract dispute over roofing work done in conjunction with the purchase of a house. The appellant, Carl Fleig, had purchased a house from homeowners who had contracted with the appellee,…

STATE ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION v. DURBIN II
Date: April 8, 2024
 Citation: 2024 OK 24
Docket Number: SCBD-7528
Stitt v. Treat  
Date: April 2, 2024
 Citation: 2024 OK 21
Docket Number: 121497

Justia Opinion Summary: This case, decided by the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma, involved a dispute between the Governor of Oklahoma and the state's legislative leaders. The Governor sought a declaration that the legislative leaders…

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT #52 OF OKLAHOMA COUNTY v. WALTERS  
Date: April 2, 2024
 Citation: 2024 OK 23
Docket Number: 121581

Justia Opinion Summary: Several school districts in Oklahoma launched a legal action claiming they had received insufficient State Aid payments for several years due to incorrect calculation by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. They…

RE REINSTATEMENT OF CREDENTIAL OF REGISTERED COURTROOM INTERPRETER
Date: April 1, 2024
 Citation: 2024 OK 20
STATE ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION v. KELLY
Date: April 1, 2024
 Citation: 2024 OK 22
Docket Number: SCBD-7628
Brown v. Dempster  
Date: March 12, 2024
 Citation: 2024 OK 17
Docket Numbers: 119, 429, 569

Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma addressed a claim brought by a mother seeking recovery for the loss of her minor child who had drowned in a neighbor's swimming pool. The mother alleged negligence…

SCHIEWE v. CESSNA AIRCRAFT CO  
Date: March 12, 2024
 Citation: 2024 OK 19
Docket Numbers: 121, 203

Justia Opinion Summary: This case involves Jade P. Schiewe and Zachary Pfaff, who filed a lawsuit against the Cessna Aircraft Company, alleging negligence after a plane crash in September 2010. The plaintiffs were flying a Cessna 172RG when a…

RE SUSPENSION OF CREDENTIALS OF CERTIFIED AND REGISTERED COURTROOM INTERPRETERS
Date: March 11, 2024
 Citation: 2024 OK 16
IN THE MATTER OF THE REINSTATEMENT OF TAYLOR
Date: March 11, 2024
 Citation: 2024 OK 18
Docket Number: No. 7550
IN THE MATTER OF E.J.T.  
Date: March 5, 2024
 Citation: 2024 OK 14
Docket Number: 120735

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma affirmed the termination of a mother's parental rights in a case concerning two deprived children. The mother, Brianna Tatum, had sought certiorari review from the Court of…

IN THE MATTER OF THE REINSTATEMENT OF REED
Date: March 5, 2024
 Citation: 2024 OK 12
Docket Numbers: 7552, SCBD-7552
The opinions published on Justia State Caselaw are sourced from individual state court sites. These court opinions may not be the official published versions, and you should check your local court rules before citing to them. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site, or the information linked to on the state site.

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

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