Two bills that seek to reform the state’s Judicial Nominating Commission have been making progress in the Oklahoma legislature. The bills, aimed at changing the way judges are selected for the state’s appellate courts, have been met with mixed reactions from lawmakers and stakeholders.
The first bill, SB 0197, seeks to significantly alter the composition of the Judicial Nominating Commission. Under the proposed legislation, the Governor would have increased authority in selecting members of the commission, which currently consists of six attorneys elected by members of the Oklahoma Bar Association and six non-attorney members appointed by the Governor. The bill would also reduce the role of the bar association in the selection process.
The second bill, HB 2365, proposes to change the number of nominees that the commission submits to the Governor for consideration when a vacancy occurs on the state’s appellate courts. Under the current system, the commission sends three nominees for the Governor to choose from. The new bill would increase this number to five, giving the Governor a wider pool of candidates to consider.
Supporters of the bills argue that the current selection process is flawed and lacks transparency. They believe that giving the Governor more control over the commission and increasing the number of nominees would result in a more diverse and qualified pool of candidates for judicial positions.
However, critics of the bills argue that they could politicize the selection process and undermine the independence of the judiciary. They warn that increasing the Governor’s influence over the commission could lead to the appointment of judges based on political considerations rather than merit.
Both bills have cleared committee hurdles and are now headed to the full legislative chambers for further consideration. It remains to be seen whether they will garner enough support to become law and bring about significant changes to the state’s judicial selection process.
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