This measure amends article 7-B, section 3 of the Oklahoma Constitution, changing the Judicial Nominating Commission’s structure. Currently appointments are based on congressional districts as constituted in 1967. If approved, appointments to the fifteen-member Commission will be as follows: 1) Governor appoints six members, including one from each congressional district as of the time of their appointment; 2) the Oklahoma Bar Association appoints six members, including one from each congressional district as of the date of selection; and 3) no less than eight members select three at-large members. The measure will permit any number of commissioners to be licensed attorneys in Oklahoma or another state. The prohibition against immediate family members from practicing law will be removed. The measure changes terms so that at-large commissioners would serve a two-year term, and all other commissioners would serve a six-year term. Additionally, it removes restrictions on political party membership for members appointed by the Governor and at-large members. The measure also permits a commissioner to succeed himself or herself. Vacancies will be filled in the same manner as a commissioner is appointed or selected for the remainder of the relevant term. This measure will not have a fiscal impact.
Shall The Proposal Be Approved?
Legislative Referendum 379: Judicial Nominating Commission
The Oklahoma Judicial Nominating Commission nominates candidates for state justices and judges to the governor when there are vacancies. This measure would change how the Judicial Nominating Commission is organized and how its members are selected. The governor and the Oklahoma Bar Association would each appoint six members to the commission — including one from each of the state’s current congressional districts — and then at least eight of those twelve members would choose three additional at-large members. The proposal would remove limits on how many commission members can be lawyers, and would allow people with close family members who practice law to serve. The measure would shorten the terms of the at-large members to two years while keeping six-year terms for the selected appointed members. It would also remove the constitutional requirement of having balanced political party representation for the members appointed by the governor and the three at-large members, which means a greater number of commissioners can be from the same party.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
https://www.kosu.org/oklahoma-judicial-reform-legislation-advances
