Oklahoma Supreme Court

OK County Jail Fight, EPIC Investigation, State Question 814 Opposition & More

By , & • Oct 9, 2020

  This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about a fight between the Oklahoma County Commissioners and the Oklahoma County Jail Trust over immigrations officers in the jail, the State Auditor releases a "deeply concerning" investigation of EPIC Virtual Charter School and the EPA gives Governor Stitt authority over environmental issues on tribal lands.

 

Lawmaker Ethics Accusations, State Question 805 Opposition, Recreational Marijuana & More

By , & • Oct 2, 2020

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel and Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill about accusations against State Representative Terry O'Donnell who authored legislation which eventually allowed for his wife to take ownership of the Catoosa Tag Agency, a group forms to oppose State Question 805 to stop the use of sentence enhancements for non violent offenders and the state supreme court shoots down a recreational marijuana initiative petition.

 

COVID-19 In Prisons, Tulsa Hate Crime Ordinance, Tribal Gaming Compacts & More

By , & • Sep 18, 2020

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel about a criminal justice reform group calling on Governor Kevin Stitt and the Department of Corrections to take steps to stem the spread of COVID-19, Tulsa City Council unanimously approved a new Hate Crimes ordinance to include sexual orientation and gender identity and the state Supreme Court denies Stitt's request for a rehearing on its decision over tribal gaming compacts.

 

Oklahoma Supreme Court Denies Rehearing Of Tribal Gaming Case

By • Sep 17, 2020
Provided

The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled in July the gaming compacts Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt entered into with the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and Comanche Nation were invalid.

Stitt requested a rehearing of that petition but in a 5-1 ruling on Monday, members of the Oklahoma Supreme Court denied that request.

Oklahoma Supreme Court Rules New Tribal Gaming Compacts Invalid

By • Jul 21, 2020
Provided

The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that Governor Kevin Stitt did not have the authority to enter into gaming compact agreements with the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and the Comanche Nation. The compacts have been ruled invalid.

Oklahoma Supreme Court Denies Petition to Block Trump Rally

By • Jun 19, 2020

The Oklahoma Supreme Court says Donald Trump’s rally in Tulsa can proceed as planned. A group of Tulsa attorneys filed a lawsuit earlier this week attempting to enforce safety protocols in the venue where 19,000 people are expected to gather for the President’s first political rally in four months.

In their decision, the justices cited the state’s reopening plan, which allows the reopening of entertainment venues, such as the BOK Center. The plan does not include any mandatory requirements for face coverings or social distancing.

Oklahoma Supreme Court: State Must Accept Signatures On Criminal Justice Reform Ballot Initiative

By • May 26, 2020

The Oklahoma Supreme Court is ordering the Secretary of State’s office to accept and count signatures demanding a felony sentencing reform question be added to the ballot this year.

The Secretary of State’s office said it wouldn’t accept more than 260,000 signatures supporting the ballot initiative because the work would put the office at risk of spreading coronavirus.

State Supreme Court justices decided the office hadn’t proven it couldn’t count the signatures safely.

Oklahoma Supreme Court Makes Voting Easier During Pandemic

By • May 5, 2020
Element5 Digital / Unsplash

On Monday, the State Supreme Court ruled absentee ballots do not need to be notarized.

Justices barred the State Election Board from issuing ballots or other election materials suggesting notarization is required.

The high court says a statement signed, dated and made under the penalty of perjury by a voter is adequate for submitting an absentee ballot by mail.

The League of Women Voters and two Oklahomans at high risk of contracting the coronavirus sued to make it easier for residents to cast absentee ballots by mail.

Coronavirus Updates: First-Time Unemployment Claims Decline, Supreme Court Steps Into Budget Fight

By • Apr 17, 2020

First-time unemployment claims in Oklahoma have dropped for the first time since mid-March.

Just under 49,000 Oklahomans filed for unemployment last week, down from 60,000 in the previous week.

For the week ending March 21 through this past Saturday, nearly 180,000 Oklahomans have filed first-time claims. The state has paid out $138 million in unemployment insurance so far in April.

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The State Supreme Court is calling on the State Board of Equalization to respond to a lawsuit by the legislature.

Legislative Leaders Ask Oklahoma Supreme Court To Weigh In On Budget Battle

By • Apr 15, 2020
Provided / The Oklahoman

State lawmakers are asking the Oklahoma Supreme Court to step into a budget fight between the legislature and Governor Kevin Stitt.

On Tuesday afternoon, leaders from the state House and Senate filed a petition calling on the governor to hold a Board of Equalization meeting and declare a revenue failure. The failure is necessary to move money out of the state's Rainy Day Fund, to fully fund state government for the next two months, lawmakers said.

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