2015 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 63. Public Health and Safety
§63-685.7. Special emergency judges.

Whenever an emergency or disaster occurs in the United States, and in the event that any judge of any court is unavailable to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office, and no other judge authorized to act or no special judge appointed in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution or statutes is available to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of such office, the duties of the office shall be discharged and the powers exercised by the special emergency judges, each of whom shall otherwise be qualified to serve as a judge, as hereinafter provided for:

1. The Governor shall designate for each member of the Supreme Court special emergency judges in the number of not less than three nor more than seven for each member of said court, and shall specify the order of their succession.

2. The Governor shall designate for each member of the Court of Criminal Appeals special emergency judges in the number of not less than three nor more than seven for each member of said court, and shall specify the order of their succession.

3. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in consultation with the other members of said court, shall designate for each court of record, except the Supreme Court and the Court of Criminal Appeals, special emergency judges in the number of not less than three nor more than seven for each judge of said courts and shall specify their order of succession.

4. The judge of the district court, or the senior judge of any such district, in consultation with the other district judges of that district, where there is more than one judge shall designate not less than three nor more than seven emergency judges for courts not of record within that district and shall specify their order of succession.

Such special emergency judges shall, in the order specified, exercise the powers and discharge the duties of such office in case of the unavailability of the regular judge or judges or persons immediately preceding them in the designation. The designating authority shall review and revise, as necessary, designations made pursuant to this act to ensure their current status.

Said special emergency judges shall discharge the duties and exercise the powers of such office until such time as a vacancy which may exist shall be filled in accordance with the Constitution and statutes or until the regular judge or one preceding the designee in the order of succession becomes available to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office.

Added by Laws 1959, p. 213, § 7, emerg. eff. June 5, 1959. Amended by Laws 1963, c. 270, § 7, emerg. eff. June 13, 1963; Laws 2003, c. 329, § 33, emerg. eff. May 29, 2003.