Highest Court
The highest court in Oklahoma is the Supreme Court of Oklahoma. The Supreme Court consists of 9 justices. It has jurisdiction over (1) Appellate jurisdiction over all civil cases.
Court of Criminal Appeals
The Court of Criminal Appeals consist
of 5 judges. It has jurisdiction over (1) Exclusive appellate jurisdiction
in criminal cases.
Intermediate Courts
Court of Appeals
The Court of Appeals consists of
12 judges. It has jurisdiction over (1) Disposes of appeals assigned to
it by the Supreme Court.
General Courts
District Court
The District Court consists 73 district,
77 associate district, and 78 special judges. It has jurisdiction
over (1) Unlimited original jurisdiction over all justiciable matters.
(2) Civil actions, probate, domestic relations, and small claims.
(3) Felonies and misdemeanors. (4) Juvenile.
Appeals de novo
No jury trials are overseen by this
court.
Limited Courts
Court of Tax Review
The Court of Tax Review consists
3 district judges. It has jurisdiction over (1) All protest against allegedly
illegal levies.
Workers' Compensation Court
The Workers' Compensation Court
consists of 9 judges. It has jurisdiction over (1) Compensation claims
in industrial accident cases.
Municipal Criminal Court of Record
The Municipal Criminal Court of
Record consist of 2 judges. It has jurisdiction over (1) City ordinance
violations with fine less than $300 and sentence less than 90 days.
No jury trials are overseen by this court.
Additional Information
Justices Not to be Candidates
A justice of the Supreme Court may
not run for any office other than a judicial position during the term that
he or she is serving. (Oklahoma Statute: Title 20, Chapter 1, Section
5)
Manner of Trial of the Supreme
Court
The Supreme Court may try issue
of fact in banc or assign one of its members to preside and conduct the
said trail. The verdict that is rendered from this trial shall
be done in the same way as trial of issues of fact in civil causes in district
courts. (Oklahoma Statute: Title 20, Chapter 1, Section 10)
Mandate-When to Issue
A cause pending in the Supreme Court
or Criminal Court of Appeals that has been disposed of will have the mandate
sent to the trial court. If the costs of the case is exhausted the
mandate shall issue without further costs. (Oklahoma Statute: Title
20, Chapter 1, Section 16)
Rules Adopted by Chief Judge
Each Chief Judge has the power to
adopt rules for the administration of the district in which he or she is
in charge. These rules must be in accordance with the rules adopted
by the Supreme Court and of the Presiding Judge. The Chief Judge
will need to have at least 20 copies of the adopted rules admitted to the
Administrative Director of the Courts. (Oklahoma Statute: Title 20,
Chapter 1, Appendix 2, Rule 8)
Chief Judge Enforcement of Rules.
The rules of two or more judges
hearing cases in one county shall be uniformly enforced. The chief
judge of the county, under the supervision of the presiding judge,
is responsible that the rules are uniformly enforced. (Oklahoma Statute:
Title 20, Chapter 1, Appendix 2, Rule 15)
Opinions-Publications
The Court of Civil Appeals shall
provide a written opinion concerning the disposition of its assigned cases.
This written opinion shall not be binding or precedent unless approved
by the majority of the Supreme Court Justices for publication in the official
reporter. The Supreme Court shall decided which opinion, if any,
shall be published in the unofficial reporter. Court of Civil Appeal
opinions that do settle precedent and those that do not settle new
questions of law shall not be released for publication in the official
reporter. (Oklahoma Statute: Title 20, Chapter 1A, Section 30.
Temporary Assignment by Chief
Judge -
The Chief Judge of a judicial district
may temporarily assign an associate district judge or a special judge to
another county within the judicial district to hear any matter which an
associate district judge or special judge, respectively, may be assigned.(Oklahoma
Statute: Title 20, Chapter 4, Section 95.9)
