Two of Three Oklahoma Supreme Court Justices Retain Seats

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OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – On Tuesday, November 5, Oklahomans cast their votes for President and several state, county and local offices. Unsurprisingly, Donald Trump won the state’s vote, securing seven electoral votes in the process. Oklahoma voters narrowly retained two of three Supreme Court Justices that were up for consideration.

Several smaller by comparison elections took place across the state. Tulsans made history by voting for its first Black mayor, Monroe Nichols.

Oklahomans also sealed the fate of two ballot propositions, only one of which was successful. State Question 834 passed overwhelmingly with more than 80% of votes in its favor. Meanwhile, Oklahoma County re-elected its Republican county sheriff, Tommie Johnson III. 

While some of these offices varied by district and location, all Oklahoma registered voters had the opportunity to retain or oust three Supreme Court Justices. 

Who Are the Three “Liberal” Justices?

Noma Gurich, Yvonne Kauger and James Edmondson were all appointed by Democratic Governors. This was the spark that fueled a months-long operation to encourage voters to remove them from their positions. “On Tuesday, I’m going to be voting ‘no’ on the three Supreme Court Justices on the ballot,” said Gov. Kevin Stitt. “These justices reflect policies and politics from decades ago when our state was run by liberal Democrats.”

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Both Gurich and Edmondson, appointed by Gov. Brad Henry in 2011, narrowly retained their seats while voters ultimately chose to expel Yvonne Kauger. It’s unclear why more voters chose to remove her rather than her ballot partners. Gov. George Nigh, the first Oklahoma governor to serve two non-consecutive terms, appointed Kauger in 1984. 

During her time on the state’s highest court, Kauger served as the Chief Justice from 1997 to 1999. It was during this tenure that she helped to establish the Oklahoma State Courts Network (OSCN), a database that collects all decisions from state district courts and the appellate courts.

Kauger was also a key component in the founding of the The Sovereignty Symposium, a tribal legal conference founded in 1988. The following year, she was awarded the Oklahoma City Dean McGee Pioneer Award, an award that recognizes individuals for their lifetime achievements. In 2001, Kauger was inducted into the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame.

Future Appointment

With Kauger now removed from her position, Stitt has the opportunity to appoint a justice of his choosing. The identity of the future justice is still unknown, but it will likely be a conservative voice. Constituents typically view justices as non-partisan, however, their appointing authority and case decisions often reveal their political values.  

There are nine justices on Oklahoma’s Supreme Court, and with a Stitt appointment imminent, the group is very likely to consist of seven conservative voices and only two liberal.