Judicial Nominating Commission reform measures pass State House

Judicial Nominating Commission Reform Measures Pass House

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 13th) – The House passed two measures this week that would reform the way judges are vetted and selected in Oklahoma.

The state's Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC), established in 1967 by an amendment to the state Constitution, is charged with nominating the three most qualified candidates for appointment by the governor to fill vacancies on the Supreme Court, the Court of Criminal Appeals, and the Court of Civil Appeals, as well as district and associate district judgeships when vacancies occur outside the normal election process for those positions. Currently, six of the 15 members of the commission are attorneys and nine are non-lawyers.

"A majority of Oklahomans are ready to modernize how state judicial applicants are vetted and appointed," said Speaker Pro Tem Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, who is the author of the bills. "The judiciary provides a vital check and balance function as laws are created, and it is important the system remains above reproach and is managed by those who know the law best. These two measures would update the nominating process in a way that would benefit the public while preserving the integrity of this system."

Oklahoma Legislature formally elects new 2025-2026 leadership

Earlier this week, the Oklahoma Legislature met for the constitutionally-required Organizational Day, where both legislative chambers formally elected their leadership and passed the rules package by which their respective bodies will operate for the next term.

Bill requiring bonding for marijuana grows signed into law

Bill requiring bonding for marijuana grows signed into law

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 24th) – Sen. Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher, said he appreciates the support of Gov. Kevin Stitt after Senate Bill 913 was signed into law Thursday. Jech is the author of the measure, which will hold medical marijuana grows accountable by requiring them to submit a bond along with their application covering the area where they will conduct business.

OCPA President files complaint against Rep. Anthony Moore over frivolous, political protective orders

OCPA President files complaint against Rep. Anthony Moore

Jonathan Small, president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, today filed a complaint with the Oklahoma State Bar Association against Rep. Anthony Moore, an attorney and former prosecutor. The complaint shows the blatant legal flaws in the protective orders that Moore admits assisting his spouse to file against Small and other OCPA staff members. Moore, as an attorney and former prosecutor, knows the law and is bound by the rules of legal ethics not to abuse the judicial process for his own political purposes.

Frivolous, politically-motivated protective orders against OCPA dropped

In the final days before the primary, State Rep. Anthony Moore's wife sought and received a protective order against several employees of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA) following what she alleged were threatening text messages. The Moore's seem to have never detailed what exactly was so threatening and have dismissed the protective orders, leaving OCPA furious at what appears now to have been nothing more than a politically-motivated media stunt, and an abuse of the protective order system.

OCPA's press release below:

Moore drops abusive protective orders

(July 6th) Rep. Anthony Moore’s spouse moved to dismiss all five Temporary Protective Orders that she had filed eight days before the primary election, including against four employees of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs. The dismissal was made public on Tuesday.

OCPA staff seek dismissal of "abusive court filings"

For some background, State Rep. Anthony Moore's wife filed for, and received, a protective order against four individuals employees of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs following allegedly "threatening" text messages that were sent to Moore's wife. The OSBI got involved (customary, as it deals with a sitting legislator) in investigating the messages. Here is OCPA's response:

 

OCPA staff seek dismissal of abusive court filings

OKLAHOMA CITY (June 22, 2022)— In filings today, four employees of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs asked for the immediate dismissal of protective-order petitions filed against them by state Rep. Anthony Moore’s spouse. The motions show that the petitions fail to meet the requirements needed for a valid protective order. 

Oklahoma AG to State Rep: pass legislation to prohibit Stillwater transgender bathroom policy

For more on the controversy over Stillwater Public Schools allowing boys to use the girls' bathrooms, click this link. Here's the latest, with Oklahoma Attorney General John O'Connor responding to a letter from State Rep. Anthony Moore requesting the AG's office take action:

Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office Sends Letter to Rep. Moore to Encourage Passage of Legislation to Protect Oklahoma Students

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 27th) - Today, the Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General sent a letter to Oklahoma State Representative Anthony Moore encouraging him to pass legislation making clear that school restrooms should be designated based on biological sex for privacy and safety purposes.

OCPA column: Election integrity measures are justified

Election integrity measures are justified

By Jonathan Small

Voter confidence is crucial to democratic stability. That’s why it is appropriate for Oklahoma state lawmakers to advance election-security measures even though Oklahoma has not suffered the election irregularities that have plagued other states.

No one can seriously argue the often-slapdash changes made to voting systems nationwide in 2020 did not harm public confidence in election outcomes.

An ABC/Ipsos poll, conducted December 27 to December 29, 2021, found that just 20 percent of Americans said they were “very confident” in the “integrity of the U.S. electoral system overall.”

A CNN poll conducted from Jan. 10 to Feb. 6 by SSRS found that just 17 percent of respondents said they were very confident “that elections in America today reflect the will of the people?” In contrast, 33 percent said they were “not at all confident.”

Those numbers show voters from all parties have a sense of unease about the validity of their state election systems. Policymakers should do all they can to remove such doubt.

In Oklahoma, one notable measure that has advanced is House Bill 3046, by Rep. Mark Lepak, which creates the “Prohibit the Private Funding of Elections Act.” The bill makes it illegal for election officials to solicit or accept private funding for election purposes.