Is historical past doomed to repeat itself?
In 1967, two justices of the Oklahoma Supreme Courtroom had been convicted of bribery and earnings tax evasion; a 3rd was impeached and faraway from workplace. Shocked by the corruption within the state’s highest courtroom, the folks of Oklahoma decided to stop this from taking place once more by passing a constitutional modification that created Oklahoma’s judicial system that now we have loved for the final 55 years.
However at present, the Oklahoma Legislature is contemplating a invoice that will flip again the clock and return Oklahoma courts to the times of political favors and crony-justice. The drafters of Senate Joint Decision 43 (“SJR 43”) would eradicate safeguards put in place to make sure the integrity of Oklahoma Courts and create the identical alternative for corruption and graft our predecessors sought to stamp out.
When Oklahoma turned a state in 1907, our judges had been chosen by elections in the identical approach legislators and congressman are at present. So, you’ll be able to think about that there was fundraising, identification with political events, and sometimes the candidate who raised probably the most cash received. The fundraising actions of these days led to the Oklahoma judicial scandals which made headlines throughout the nation. The 1967 constitutional amendments that our dad and mom and our grandparents handed changed the corrupt system.
A part of the 1967 amendments created the Judicial Nominating Fee (“JNC”). The JNC was created to display candidates for Oklahoma’s appellate courts — the Supreme Courtroom, the Oklahoma Courtroom of Appeals and the Oklahoma Legal Courtroom of Appeals. The JNC consists of 15 commissioners — 9 non-lawyers and 6 legal professionals — who interview candidates after an intensive background investigation, a secret vote on three candidates who’re then despatched to the governor to select who she or he believes is probably the most certified. There isn’t a campaigning, no fundraising, no political patronage.
However most of us cope with the district courts of Oklahoma — the courts within the counties the place we live-where divorces are granted, wills are probated, and legal circumstances are tried. Even these courts could be affected. In accordance with the decision, sitting judges would lose their jobs on the finish of their time period in workplace except nominated by the governor or confirmed by the Oklahoma Senate. If the invoice passes, candidates for judicial positions could be required to reveal their political affiliation and would have the ability to actively ask for cash. Which may give an unqualified candidate an edge within the election. It additionally may give the voter who gave a fats donation to that candidate an edge within the courtroom.
There are different elements of SJR 43 that may create an upheaval in the best way you obtain authorized companies and justice in Oklahoma. In case your legislator continues to hearken to the influencers who need to management justice in Oklahoma and go the laws, it is going to have an effect on you and your loved ones — if you find yourself stopped for rushing, should endure a divorce, promote your home or lose a liked one.
No matter what you may hear from some politicians, hear on the radio or see on tv, our courtroom system is just not damaged, and neither is the best way our judges are chosen.
Please contact your state consultant and your state senator and inform them you don’t need to have to purchase your justice. Inform her or him to oppose SJR 43 in any type and to go away our justice system alone.