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
Cole v. Oklahoma ex rel. Dept. of Public Safety  
Date: September 15, 2020
 Citation: 2020 OK 67
Docket Number: 117424

Justia Opinion Summary: Plaintiff-appellant Michael Cole appealed a district court order remanding a driver's license revocation proceeding for hearing following his due process challenge. Cole violated Oklahoma's implied consent law after his...

STATE ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION v. GIERHART
Date: September 15, 2020
 Citation: 2020 OK 72
Docket Number: SCBD-6848
IN THE MATTER OF THE STRIKING OF NAMES OF MEMBERS OF THE OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION
Date: September 14, 2020
 Citation: 2020 OK 68
Docket Number: SCBD-6799
IN THE MATTER OF THE STRIKING OF NAMES OF MEMBERS OF THE OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION
Date: September 14, 2020
 Citation: 2020 OK 69
Docket Number: SCBD-6800
IN THE MATTER OF THE SUSPENSION OF MEMBERS OF THE OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION
Date: September 14, 2020
 Citation: 2020 OK 70
Docket Number: SCBD-6971
IN THE MATTER OF THE SUSPENSION OF MEMBERS OF THE OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION
Date: September 14, 2020
 Citation: 2020 OK 71
Docket Number: SCBD-6972
ORDER RE SECRETARY-BAILIFF JOB DESCRIPTION
Date: August 13, 2020
 Citation: 2020 OK 66
KIESEL v. ROGERS
Date: August 3, 2020
 Citation: 2020 OK 65
Docket Number: 118919
Treat v. Stitt  
Date: July 21, 2020
 Citation: 2020 OK 64
Docket Number: 118829

Justia Opinion Summary: Through mediation efforts in connection with a federal lawsuit pending in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Respondent, the Honorable J. Kevin Stitt, Governor of Oklahoma, negotiated...

In the Matter of L.M.A.  
Date: June 30, 2020
 Citation: 2020 OK 63
Docket Number: 118136

Justia Opinion Summary: This case involved three children and a district court's judgment finding the children were deprived and father's parental rights should be terminated. The children were taken into emergency custody in 2016. The mother h...

STATE ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION v. MAYES
Date: June 30, 2020
 Citation: 2020 OK 62
Docket Number: SCBD-6934
CREATION OF THE UNIFORM REPRESENTATION OF CHILDREN AND PARENTS IN CASES INVOLVING ABUSE AND NEGLECT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
Date: June 29, 2020
 Citation: 2020 OK 61
IN RE OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOC. ALTERNATIVE METHOD TO CONDUCT 2020 ANNUAL MEETING
Date: June 29, 2020
 Citation: 2020 OK 60
Docket Number: SCBD-6938
Independent School District # 52 v. Hofmeister  
Date: June 23, 2020
 Citation: 2020 OK 56
Docket Number: 117081

Justia Opinion Summary: Plaintiff School districts located in Midwest City/Del City, Enid, Ponca City, and Oklahoma City filed an action alleging they received insufficient State Aid payments for the years 1992-2014. The named defendants were:...

In re: State Question No. 807, Initiative Petition No. 423  
Date: June 23, 2020
 Citation: 2020 OK 57
Docket Number: 118582

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2019, Respondents Ryan Kiesel and Michelle Tilley filed State Question No. 807, Initiative Petition No. 423 (SQ 807) with the Secretary of State of Oklahoma. SQ 807 proposes for submission to the voters the creation o...

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.