{"id":16333,"date":"2023-12-04T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-04T15:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/norwoodlegal.com\/?p=16333"},"modified":"2023-12-04T09:38:05","modified_gmt":"2023-12-04T15:38:05","slug":"in-the-courtroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/norwoodlegal.com\/in-the-courtroom\/","title":{"rendered":"A bribery scandal led to Oklahoma\u2019s modern court system"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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By G.W. Schulz<\/p>

The Oklahoma system of courts owes its current composition in part to a corruption scandal that took place during the 1960s. Three justices on the Oklahoma Supreme Court were accused of accepting bribes for over 20 years in exchange for favorable rulings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u201cThe scandal had a depressing effect on the judiciary and the practice of law in Oklahoma,\u201d writes the Oklahoma Bar Association about the affair. \u201cTime magazine called the scandal one of the worst in American history and referred to the quality of justice in Oklahoma as \u2018the best money can buy.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Reforms were instituted by Oklahoma voters in the scandal\u2019s wake. County courts and the so-called \u201cjustice of the peace\u201d system were abolished. Civil and criminal cases are today adjudicated by district courts. Unexpected vacancies are filled by the governor, but district judges are otherwise elected by the people every four years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Appeals are handled by the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals, and the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Judges from each of these non-district courts are appointed by the governor who chooses from a short list compiled by the Oklahoma Judicial Nominating Commission. These judges must then be voted for retention by the people every six years.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

What else should Oklahomans know about how their courts operate? Keep reading to learn more.<\/span><\/p>

Are you tied up in a legal dispute? Is the government accusing you of a crime? If so, trust Norwood.Law to be your advocate and tell your side of the story. We practice criminal defense, personal injury, family, business law, and more. Need help with a will, trust, or estate? We do those, too. When the time comes that you need our help, visit Norwood.Law online or call us for a free consultation at 918-582-6464.<\/span><\/p>

Below is a list assembled <\/span>with help from the Oklahoma Bar Association<\/span><\/a> of important things you\u2019ll want to know about the state\u2019s courts. The bar association\u2019s mission is to \u201censure that every Oklahoman has access to a fair and impartial court system.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Oklahoma district courts<\/b> The state of Oklahoma has 77 district or \u201cgeneral jurisdiction\u201d courts, which handle civil and criminal cases. There can be more than one county in a given district. Tulsa County\u2019s district includes Pawnee County, for example. The Comanche County district includes Cotton, Jefferson, and Stephens counties. There are also so-called courts of limited jurisdiction. They typically operate at the city or municipal level and are largely limited to automobile tickets and city citations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

According to the Oklahoma Historical Society: \u201cThe primary function of a court system is to keep domestic peace. The courts do this through formalized rituals of case and controversy solving, which has been accepted and recognized in the United States through the establishment of general court systems. In territorial Oklahoma, a court system was created in the 1890s, and it was continued by the framers of the Oklahoma Constitution after statehood in 1907.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

An Oklahoma jury consists of 12 people, and all of them must concur with one another on a criminal verdict. Decisions in civil matters need just nine concurrences from the jurors.<\/span><\/p>