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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
HOUSE JOINT
RESOLUTION 1014 By: Lepak
AS INTRODUCED
A Joint Resolution directing the Secretary of State
to refer to the people for their approval or
rejection a proposed amend ment to Section 4 of
Article VII-B of the Constitution of the State of
Oklahoma; modifying provisions related to selection
of justices or judges; requiring appointment by
Governor; providing for appointment by Chief Justice
of the Oklahoma Supreme Court in certain
circumstances; prescribing confirmation process by
Oklahoma State Senate; providi ng for authority of
nominee during certain time period; providing ballot
title; and directing filing.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN D THE SENATE OF THE
1ST SESSION OF THE 60TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:
SECTION 1. The Secretary of State shall refer to the people for
their approval or rejection, as and in the manner provided by law,
the following proposed amendment to Sectio n 4 of Article VII-B of
the Constitution of the State of Oklahoma to read as follows:
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Section 4. When a vacancy in any Judicial Office, however
arising, occurs or is certain to occur, the Judicial Nominating
Commission shall choose and submit to the Governor and the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court three (3) nominees, each of whom has
previously notified the Commission in writing that he will serve as
a Judicial Officer if appointed. The Governor shall appoint one (1)
of the nominees a qualified person to fill the vacancy, but if he
fails to do so within sixty (60) days after the vacancy occ urs, the
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall appoint one (1) of the
nominees, the appointment to a qualified person and in either case,
except as otherwise provi ded by this section, the nominee shall not
begin to serve until confirmation of the nomination by a majority
vote of the members elected to and constituting the Oklahoma State
Senate. After confirmation, the appointment shall be certified by
the Secretary of State. If the Governor makes an appointment when
the Legislature is not in session, t he nominee shall be able to
serve until the Legislature convenes in either regular session or in
an extraordinary session during which a confirmation vote is
authorized based upon the call for the extraordinary session whether
pursuant to Section 27A of Article V or Section 7 of Article VI of
the Oklahoma Constitution.
SECTION 2. The Ballot Title for the proposed Constitutional
amendment as set forth i n SECTION 1 of this resolution shall be in
the following form:
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BALLOT TITLE
Legislative Referendum No. ____ State Question No. ____
THE GIST OF THE PROPOSITION IS AS FOLLOWS:
This measure amends the Oklahoma Constitution. It amends
Section 4 of Article 7 -B. The Judicial Nominating Commission
makes recommendations for appointment of justices to the appeals
courts in Oklahoma which includes the Oklahoma Supreme Court and
the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. This measure would
replace the Judicial Nomina ting Commission. The Governor would
appoint qualified persons to fill vacancies. If the Governor
did not act within a certain time, the Chief Justice of the
Oklahoma Supreme Court would make the appointment. All
appointments would be subject to confirma tion by the Oklahoma
State Senate. Confirmation would require a majority vote of
lawmakers elected to and constituting the Oklahoma State Senate.
If the Governor appointed someone when the Legislature was not
in session, the appointee would have authorit y to act until the
Legislature was in session.
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?
FOR THE PROPOSAL — YES _____________
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL — NO _____________
SECTION 3. The Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives,
immediately after the passage of this act, shall prepare and file
one copy thereof, including the Ballot Title set forth in SECTION 2
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hereof, with the Secretary of State and one copy with the Attorney
General.
60-1-10218 AO 01/13/25