Bill > SB661

This bill modifies the nomination and election procedures for district court judges in Judicial Districts No. 5 and No. 21. For District No. 5, which encompasses Comanche, Stephens, Cotton, and Jefferson counties, the bill changes how judges are nominated and elected. Instead of being nominated and elected at large across the district, candidates for specific judicial offices will now be required to be legal residents of and nominated/elected from specific counties: Office Nos. 1 and 4 from Comanche or Cotton County, Office No. 2 from Stephens or Jefferson County, and Office Nos. 3 and 5 from Comanche County. Similarly, for District No. 21, which includes Garvin, McClain, and Cleveland counties, the bill adjusts the nomination and election rules for the five district judges. Candidates for Office Nos. 1, 3, 4, and 5 must now be legal residents of and nominated/elected from Cleveland County, while the candidate for Office No. 2 must be a legal resident of and nominated/elected from Garvin or McClain County. These changes effectively localize the candidate pool for each judicial office within specific counties, potentially making the judges more directly accountable to the communities they serve. The bill will become effective on November 1, 2025.

Justice

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb661&Session=2600