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
SHADID v. CITY OF OKLAHOMA CITY
Date: October 14, 2019
 Citation: 2019 OK 65
Docket Number: 118271
IN RE: AMENDMENT TO OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT RULE 1.60
Date: October 8, 2019
 Citation: 2019 OK 64
STATE ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION v. ARNETT
Date: October 7, 2019
 Citation: 2019 OK 63
Docket Number: SCBD-6676
STATE ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION v. LEVISAY
Date: October 7, 2019
 Citation: 2019 OK 62
Docket Number: SCBD-6827
Williams v. TAMKO Building Products, Inc.  
Date: October 1, 2019
 Citation: 2019 OK 61
Docket Number: 117190

Justia Opinion Summary: Defendant-appellee TAMKO Building Products, Inc. was a roof shingle manufacturer incorporated in Missouri. Plaintiffs-appellants were homeowners whose contractors installed Defendant's shingles on homeowner's roof. Plain...

STATE ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION v. STOUT
Date: October 1, 2019
 Citation: 2019 OK 60
Docket Number: SCBD-6732
I. T. K. v. Mounds Public Schools  
Date: September 24, 2019
 Citation: 2019 OK 59
Docket Number: 115069

Justia Opinion Summary: Plaintiff, a child, by and through his parents, brought a Governmental Tort Claims Act action alleging he was injured through the negligence of a school bus driver. The child was taken to a hospital emergency room, given...

Hobson v. Cimarex Energy Co,  
Date: September 17, 2019
 Citation: 2019 OK 58
Docket Number: 116721

Justia Opinion Summary: Plaintiff/Appellant was the vested remainderman of his father's life estate in the surface rights of land in Canadian County, Oklahoma (the "Property"). Defendant Cimarex Energy Company was the lessee of the Property's m...

CREATION OF THE OKLAHOMA BAR EXAMINATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Date: September 16, 2019
 Citation: 2019 OK 57
Saunders v. Smothers  
Date: September 10, 2019
 Citation: 2019 OK 54
Docket Number: 116052

Justia Opinion Summary: Shalalah Saunders (Tenant) sued her landlord Marcella Smothers (Landlord) who left Tenant's hot water heater inoperable for more than a week. Tenant leased a house from Landlord where Tenant lived with her two children,...

STATE ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION v. MOISANT
Date: September 10, 2019
 Citation: 2019 OK 55
Docket Number: SCBD-6627
STATE ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION v. TRIPP
Date: September 10, 2019
 Citation: 2019 OK 56
Docket Number: SCBD-6815
CREATION OF TASK FORCE ON UNIFORM REPRESENTATION OF CHILDREN AND PARENTS IN CASES INVOLVING ABUSE AND NEGLECT
Date: July 22, 2019
 Citation: 2019 OK 53
Schneller v. Platt  
Date: June 25, 2019
 Citation: 2019 OK 52
Docket Number: 115362

Justia Opinion Summary: Lori and Heather, a same-sex couple, conceived a child ("J.L.") through artificial insemination and co-parented together as a family for eight years. J.L. recognized Lori as her "momma" or "Momma Lori." For the first eig...

IN RE AMENDMENTS TO RULE 10 AND RULE 11 OF STATE BD. OF EXAMINERS OF CERTIFIED CTRM. INTERPRETERS
Date: June 24, 2019
 Citation: 2019 OK 49
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.