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Oklahoma State Courts

Courts – State Courts – Oklahoma

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)


Inside Oklahoma State Courts