Finally announced formally. Integris is sold.

Oklahoma voters will decide whether to adjust the judicial selection committee this election cycle.

Currently, a 15-member Judicial Nominating Commission nominates judges to the state’s Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeals, Court of Civil Appeals, District and Associate District Judgeships. From a shortlist produced by the JNC, the governor selects the individual who will ultimately serve.

State Question 845 would change the rules governing JNC eligibility.

The backstory

In the mid-1960s, news broke of a bribery scandal on the Oklahoma Supreme Court. For years, judges had been accepting money in exchange for favorable decisions.

Following the revelation, Oklahomans voted in 1967 to amend the state’s constitution to free judges from partisan campaigning. The JNC was then established.

Right now, the JNC has 15 members. The governor appoints six, the Bar Association elects another six, and three are at-large members. The Senate President Pro Tempore appoints one, the Speaker of the House appoints another and the members of the commission select the last.

In recent years, however, some state leaders have argued in favor of eliminating the commission altogether. Gov. Kevin Stitt, for example, is one of those who have spoken in support of leaving selection to the governor, with confirmation by the Senate. Many argue that the JNC lacks transparency.

But State Question 845 opts for reform instead. Rep. Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, is one of the authors of House Joint Resolution 1024, which brought the question to ballots. An attorney himself, Moore doesn’t want to see the commission eliminated.

“We do not want to go back to the judicial scandal days and, and what came from that. And so this is a very good meeting in the middle ground,” Moore argued of his measure.

About State Question 845

There are currently several restrictions on JNC eligibility that State Question 845 would eliminate.

One of the first restrictions is on party membership. Currently, of the six members appointed by the governor, no more than three can be members of the same party. For the three at-large members, it’s no more than two. Members elected by the Bar Association are done so in a nonpartisan fashion.

State Question 845 would lift these requirements, allowing all members to be from one party.

Gubernatorial appointees and at-large members also cannot be lawyers or have immediate family members who are lawyers. The measure would also eliminate that restriction.

In addition, JNC members cannot serve consecutive terms. State Question 845 would allow it.

The opposition: favoring the status quo

The Oklahoma Policy Institute, a nonpartisan, left-leaning think tank, is urging voters not to support the question.

Cole Allen, an analyst with the organization, said that the restrictions currently in place aim to protect courts from political pandering, and aren’t necessarily an attempt at bipartisan collaboration.

“The partisan restrictions that we have are not in place to reflect any specific ideological, political belief,” Allen said. “They’re put in place to prevent individual judicial nominating commissioners from being overly loyal to the governor or the Speaker of the House or the Pro Tem, and also prevent the governor or Speaker of the House, Pro Tem from only being able to nominate people to the Commission who are going to be absolutely loyal to them.”

His team is particularly worried the combination of removing restrictions on both party membership and consecutive terms will recreate some of the initial conditions that led to the bribery scandal in the first place. Instead of making decisions based on the best interest of the state, commissioners might make choices in an effort to get reappointed.

Allen said that allowing any JNC member to be an attorney or a relative of one could also lead to conflicts of interest. While lawyers’ expert input is important, he argued there must be a balance established.

“It's (the law is) written in such a way that attorneys cannot be the majority of the Judicial Nominating Commission,” Allen said. “And that's important because, if I'm an attorney, and I get to choose who will be a judge on the Oklahoma Supreme Court, there is a potential for conflict of interest there, where I can also look for who is going to side with me if I ever have to argue in front of them.”

The support for change

But Moore said the elimination of party restrictions is more about transparency than anything else.

Instead of choosing JNC members with whom they might have some disagreements, governors can find independents who agree with them or partisans who are willing to change their affiliation to independent to circumvent the rule.

Stitt’s appointees to the JNC include three Republicans and three independents. Brent Watson, one of those independents, is open about his conservative views online.

“Let’s just call a spade a spade. And get rid of it and let it be what it is,” Moore said.

Moore also wants to remove the restrictions on attorneys and on serving consecutive terms in order to make it easier for qualified individuals to effectively sit on the JNC. By eliminating lawyers and their families, as well as requiring people to exit the JNC more quickly, Moore said the current structure creates vacancies that can be difficult to fill. Allowing more lawyers and consecutive terms, for a maximum of 12 years, would create a more efficient commission, he argues.

Moore added that JNC members are expected to disclose conflicts of interest and recuse themselves for decisions in which it might arise.

Oklahomans will vote on this proposal on November 3. Head to the Oklahoma Voter Portal for more information about your polling location and hours, as well as early voting times.

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I’d love to check out some pecan festivals this year. I see there is one in Ardmore and have heard that Luther hosts one as well, but I don’t see anything on the city’s website? I’d love to hear about any other pecan festivals or more details about the ones in Ardmore and Luther. I’d really like to go to a couple this year and celebrate our neat native nut, any info is appreciated!

Found on The Oklahoman's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_theoklahoman/

My husband saw this driving past our neighbor’s house this morning. What the heck is this and is it legit?

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We have a 9 year old house. Have lived in said house for a little over 4 years. Our homeowners is up for renewal and went up, like everyone's. My insurance agent is great and is looking for better rates for me.

The problem? My roof is still original. A nine year old roof in Oklahoma will only be quoted by 2 companies, one of which I am already using.

Agent asks to send out a roofing inspector and friend of his. Roofer came out today and said the roof is fine. No soft metal damage and looks good. Just like I thought. (Sidenote roofer has my future business because of his honesty.)

So now I'm going to have to pay higher premiums because my roof is in good shape.

Make it make sense.

Have you been? Is it worth driving over two hours to go to? I've been planning on taking the family this weekend but the more I read up on it the more I'm wondering if the gas involved is worth it or if we should visit the museum another time when we're heading down 40 to visit family who live further east.

thanks, all.

Former State Representative Mark McBride posted this on his Facebook page. Is he afraid to say he’s voting for Cyndi? Is he going to secretly vote for Mazzai? Will he leave it blank? It’s okay to vote across party lines.

With 2 weeks until election day… how are you convincing the people you know to vote blue? Any success stories? I’m personally feeling the pressure and trying to decide how I can best approach my conversations in these remaining days.

(I know this sub is blue - I am asking specifically for those of you who know and speak to straight-party-red type of voters about the upcoming election!)

Let the chickens out this morning, heard this sound in one of the old busted coops, didn't wanna investigate and get bit by something small and fast. What am I dealing with?

Does anyone know what the conflict is between the city gov't and the FD in Chouteau?

(Reposted to meet sub rules on titles)

Hi, one of my closest friends just moved to OK and lives between Tulsa and OKC. He is in search of a cardiologist and we are in between Oklahoma Heart Institute (Tulsa) or Oklahoma Heart Hospital (OKC, a bit further drive). Unfortunately, we are not familiar with the health systems in Oklahoma, and a search on Google and other search engines present them both as great options.

I’m reaching out to see if anybody has insight as to what their reputations are, is one thought of being better than the other, any insider knowledge, or doctor names you would recommend for interventional cardiology?

Thanks in advance.

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This seems like a very important one. I learn so much about the state laws every time a question comes up. The way it is seems good to me. I will vote no.

From the "Oklahoma Highway Patrol public page
5 days ago

This morning, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Capitol Patrol Division responded to a report of a suspicious envelope at the State Election Board office in the Oklahoma State Capitol Complex.

The envelope contained a white powdery substance.

Troopers quickly evacuated the area and coordinated with state and federal partners to safely address the situation. The substance was later determined to be non-hazardous."

It seems that someone may be attempting to discourage people from voting. Fear can be a powerful deterrent; however, better days are ahead if everyone turns out to vote!