Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals

Oklahoma
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The Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals is an intermediate appellate court in the state of Oklahoma. Cases are assigned to it by the Oklahoma Supreme Court, the state's highest court for civil matters.[1]

The court consists of twelve judges divided into four panels with three judges each.[1] They are responsible for the majority of appellate decisions in Oklahoma.[2] Furthermore, the Oklahoma Supreme Court has the power to release the court's opinions for publication, in which case they have value as precedent.[2]

Two of the court's four panels are housed in Tulsa, Oklahoma.[3] The two Oklahoma City panels are housed in the Oklahoma State Capitol building.

History

The Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals was established by the state legislature in 1970 under Title 20, section 30.1, of the Oklahoma Statutes, which provides: "There is hereby established an intermediate appellate court to be known as the Court of Civil Appeals of the State of Oklahoma which shall have the power to determine or otherwise dispose of any cases that are assigned to it by the Supreme Court." Any decision of the Court of Civil Appeals in any case assigned to it, upon petition by one of the parties involved, may be reviewed by the Oklahoma Supreme Court if a majority of its Justices direct that a petition for certiorari be granted, and the Supreme Court may, by order, recall a case from the Court of Civil Appeals.

Selection process

Appellate judges are appointed by the governor from a list of three candidates nominated by the Oklahoma Judicial Nominating Commission.[4] The commission is composed 6 attorneys who are "members of the Oklahoma Bar Association and who have been elected by the other active members of their district," 6 non-attorneys appointed by the governor, and 3 non-attorney "members at large," one to be selected by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, one to be selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and one to be selected by at least eight members of the commission itself.[4] Article 7B, section 3, of the Oklahoma Constitution sets forth the composition of the nominating commission in even greater detail.

List of current judges

Justice Birthplace Year Service Began Appointing Governor Law School
E. Bay Mitchell, III
Enid, Oklahoma
2002
Frank Keating
University of Oklahoma
Jane Wiseman
Tulsa, Oklahoma
2005
Brad Henry
University of Tulsa
Deborah B. Barnes (chief judge)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
2008
Brad Henry
Oklahoma City University
Robert D. Bell
Norman, Oklahoma
2005
Brad Henry
University of Tulsa
Kenneth L. Buettner
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
1996
Frank Keating
Southern Methodist University
John Fischer
Rush Springs, Oklahoma
2007
Brad Henry
University of Oklahoma
Brian Jack Goree
Mary Fallin
University of Oklahoma
Jerry Goodman
Mangum, Oklahoma
1994
David Walters
Georgetown University
Thomas Thornbrugh
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Mary Fallin
Oklahoma City University
William C. Hetherington (vice-chief judge)
Norman, Oklahoma
2009
Brad Henry
Oklahoma City University
Larry E. Joplin
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
1994
David Walters
University of Oklahoma
W. Keith Rapp
Wheelersburg, Ohio
1984
George Nigh
University of Tulsa

References

  1. 1 2 Stephens, Jerry E., Judiciary," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Archived May 31, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. (accessed June 23, 2010).
  2. 1 2 Oklahoma Bar Association, "Judges and Courts" (accessed June 23, 2010).
  3. ↑ Oklahoma Supreme Court Network, "The Supreme Court of Oklahoma," p. 3 (accessed June 23, 2010).
  4. 1 2 Oklahoma Supreme Court Network, "The Supreme Court of Oklahoma," p. 5 (accessed June 23, 2010).
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