Oklahoma

Oklahoma Supreme Court
Missouri Plan
9 Justices
1 year minimum terms, 6 year full terms
State High Court & Judicial Nominating Commission Composition & Terms of Judicial Nominating Commission Judicial Selection Process Legal Authority
15 members:

  • 6 lawyers elected by the Oklahoma state bar
    • 1 from each of 6 congressional districts as they existed in 1967
  • 9 non-lawyers
    • 6 appointed by the Governor*
      • 1 from each of 6 congressional districts as they existed in 1967
    • 3 non-lawyers to serve as members at large
      • 1 is appointed by the Senate President Pro Tempore
      • 1 is appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives
      • 1 is selected by the other members of the Commission
*No more than 3 can be from the same political party
Terms: 6 years (staggered), 2 years for at-large member
General

  • Commission submits a list of three candidates from which the Governor must choose one.
  • At the end of a Justice’s term, the Justice will be subject to a statewide retention election and will continue for another term if the Justice is retained.

Interim Vacancies

  • In the event of a vacancy, the Governor shall, by appointment from said district, fill such vacancy until the next election for State Officers, and at such election the vacancy for the unexpired term shall be filled by a non-partisan
    election in a manner provided by statute.

Percentage of Lawyers on the Nominating Commission

Who Selects the Nominating Commissioners?
  • Judicial Election

    Judges are elected by popular vote.
  • Democratic Appointment

    Judges are appointed directly by a democratic body, or appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of some democratic body.