An Act
ENROLLED HOUSE
BILL NO. 1980 By: Lepak of the House
and
Daniels and Bullard of the
Senate
An Act relating to courts; providing the intent of
the Legislature to promote transparency in the
Judicial Nominating Commission's selection process;
requiring the Judicial Nominating Commission to
promulgate certain rules; providing for codification;
providing for noncodification; and providing an
effective date.
SUBJECT: Courts
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law not to be
codified in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as follows:
A. It is hereby declared to be the intention of the Legislature
that the Judicial Nominating Commission promulgate rules to promote
the transparency of the Judicial Nominating Commission's selection
process. It is the public policy of the State of Oklahoma that the
people are vested with the inherent right to know and be fully
informed about their government. In accordance with this public
policy, the Legislature finds that the people have a vested interest
in the selection process of justices and judges nominated to
judicial office and should be informed of the Judicial Nominating
Commission's selection process for each candidate nominated fo r
judicial office.
B. It is not the intention of the Legislature that any negative,
private, embarrassing or otherwise sensitive information be
disclosed by the Judicial Nominating Commission's efforts to ENR. H. B. NO. 1980 Page 2
increase transparency of the selection process. Specifically, the
Legislature does not intend for the background check conducted by
the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to be made public.
SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in
the Oklahoma Statutes as Se ction 25 of Title 20, unless there is
created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
The Judicial Nominating Commission shall promulgate rules to
promote transparency of the selection process of nominees for
judicial office. The rules shall be pro minently published on the
Judicial Nominating Commission's website .
SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2021.
ENR. H. B. NO. 1980 Page 3
Passed the House of Representatives the 3rd day of March, 2021.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the 14th day of April, 2021.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Received by the Office of the Governor this ____________________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________
Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
_________________________________
Governor of the State of Oklahoma
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this __________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________