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
STATE ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION v. BURTON
Date: February 23, 2021
 Citation: 2021 OK 9
Docket Number: 6846
In the Matter of the Assessments for Tax Year 2012  
Date: February 9, 2021
 Citation: 2021 OK 7
Docket Number: 118243

Justia Opinion Summary: Property owners (taxpayers) appealed ad valorem tax assessments made during 2012-2015 to the Tulsa County District Court after their appeals to the Tulsa County Board of Equalization were denied. Taxpayers were successfu...

Warehouse Market v. Oklahoma ex rel. Ok. Tax Comm.  
Date: February 2, 2021
 Citation: 2021 OK 6
Docket Number: 118504

Justia Opinion Summary: Plaintiff-appellee Warehouse Market subleased a commercial building from defendant Pinnacle Management, Inc. The building was on federally restricted Indian land. Subsequently, defendant-appellant, Oklahoma Tax Commissio...

Claude C. Arnold Non-Operated Royalty Interest Properties v. Cabot Oil & Gas Corp.  
Date: January 26, 2021
 Citation: 2021 OK 4
Docket Number: 115807

Justia Opinion Summary: The dispute in this case centered on two oil-and-gas-producing formations known as the Chester and the Marmaton, located in Beaver County, Oklahoma. In 1973, Arnold Petroleum, Inc., the predecessor in interest to plainti...

Treat v. Stitt  
Date: January 26, 2021
 Citation: 2021 OK 3
Docket Number: 118913

Justia Opinion Summary: The Oklahoma Supreme Court previously declared that certain tribal gaming compacts the Oklahoma Executive branch entered into with the Comanche and Otoe-Missouria Tribes were invalid under Oklahoma law because the gaming...

Ezzell v. Lack  
Date: January 26, 2021
 Citation: 2021 OK 5
Docket Number: 119220

Justia Opinion Summary: Voters in the City of Enid presented a recall petition to City of Enid officials. The petition sought to recall plaintiff-appellant, City Commissioner Ben Ezzell for his support of a city wide mask mandate to combat the...

AMENDMENT OF RULES 3, 4 5 and 7 OF RULES GOVERNING ADMISSION TO PRACTICE OF LAW
Date: January 21, 2021
 Citation: 2021 OK 2
Docket Number: SCBD-7013
STATE ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION v. JACK
Date: January 19, 2021
 Citation: 2021 OK 1
Docket Number: SCBD-6896
ESTABLISHMENT OF 2021 UNIFORM MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT RATE FOR EXPENSES PAID FROM COURT FUND
Date: December 29, 2020
 Citation: 2020 OK 112
RE OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER JOB DESCRIPTION
Date: December 17, 2020
 Citation: 2020 OK 111
In re Marriage of Rader  
Date: December 15, 2020
 Citation: 2020 OK 106
Docket Number: 118344

Justia Opinion Summary: The issue this case presented for the Oklahoma Supreme Court's review centered on a child custody dispute between divorced parents where divorce actions were filed in two different states at different times. Petitioner-A...

Johnson v. CSAA General Insurance Co.  
Date: December 15, 2020
 Citation: 2020 OK 110
Docket Number: 118689

Justia Opinion Summary: Tokiko Johnson's real property was damaged in a storm and she filed a claim with her insurance company. Johnson also executed an assignment of her insurance claim for the purpose of repairing the property with the execut...

RE INTERPRETER FEES
Date: December 14, 2020
 Citation: 2020 OK 107
RE VIDEOCONFERENCING AND TELECONFERENCING IN MEETINGS OF BDS. AND COMMITTEES OF THE JUDICIARY
Date: December 14, 2020
 Citation: 2020 OK 108
IN THE MATTER OF THE REINSTATEMENT OF CRONKHITE
Date: December 14, 2020
 Citation: 2020 OK 109
Docket Number: SCBD-6905
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.