Oklahoma

SCOTUS seems closely divided on new trial for Oklahoma death row inmate

The Supreme Court appeared closely divided Wednesday over whether to order a new trial for Oklahoma death-row inmate Richard Glossip, whose case has attracted support from across the political spectrum after independent investigations revealed prosecutorial misconduct.

Oct 9, 2024 3:50 PM CDT

Supreme Court allows HHS to divert funds over abortion referrals

The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for the Biden administration to strip millions of health care dollars from Oklahoma over its refusal to direct patients to information about abortions—a federal requirement that the state says would be at odds with its strict ban on terminating pregnancies.

Sep 5, 2024 10:30 AM CDT

Judge accused in drive-by shootings has progressive brain disease, court filing says

An Oklahoma judge accused in two drive-by shootings has frontotemporal dementia, a disease that can cause “bizarre out-of-character behavior" changes, his lawyers said in an Aug. 28 court filing.

Sep 3, 2024 10:14 AM CDT

SCOTUS could be next stop after top Oklahoma court rules on state-funded religious school

A contract providing for state funding of an online Catholic charter school violates the First Amendment’s establishment clause, the Oklahoma Constitution and a state law governing charter schools, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.

Jun 25, 2024 3:29 PM CDT

Survivors of Tulsa Race Massacre can’t get reparations under nuisance law, top Oklahoma court says

Updated: The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit seeking reparations for the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre on behalf of two survivors who are 109 and 110 years old.

Jun 13, 2024 8:57 AM CDT

Proposal to impose nation’s most restrictive cap on contingency fees may appear on ballot, judge rules

A judge in Nevada has refused to block a ballot measure that would impose a 20% cap on contingency fees in civil cases in the state.

May 15, 2024 9:29 AM CDT

Incarceration series includes female inmates but doesn’t tell full story

“Moreover, the series has thus far failed to explain some of the most counterintuitive aspects and sex-based discrepancies of American sentencing and incarceration,” writes Oklahoma lawyer and ABA Journal columnist Adam Banner.

Apr 8, 2024 12:32 PM CDT

Burdened prison staffers seeking more time between executions should ‘suck it up,’ top criminal court judge says

Judge Gary Lumpkin, a judge on Oklahoma’s top criminal appeals court, has said state prison officials seeking more time between executions have to “suck it up” and get the job done. Lumpkin said he’s not buying into the “sympathy stuff.”

Apr 3, 2024 8:48 AM CDT

Judge resigns after allegedly texting through toddler-death trial

As the murder trial for a man accused of beating a toddler to death began in June, the thoughts of the Oklahoma judge overseeing the case allegedly drifted to the appearance of the prosecutor: “Why does he have baby hands? … They are so weird looking,” she texted the bailiff, according to a court petition filed against her.

Feb 12, 2024 9:25 AM CST

Alabama ready to help other states with ‘humane’ nitrogen executions after gas caused inmate to ‘shake and writhe’

Alabama is ready to help other states carry out “humane” nitrogen gas executions after using it for the first time Thursday to kill inmate Kenneth Smith, the state’s attorney general has said.

Jan 30, 2024 8:58 AM CST

SCOTUS will hear death row inmate’s wrongful-conviction claim supported by state attorney general

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to decide whether Oklahoma death row inmate Richard Glossip is entitled to reversal of his conviction because the state suppressed evidence that a co-defendant who implicated Glossip had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Jan 22, 2024 1:04 PM CST

Only 7 states imposed new death sentences in 2023; 1 of them has passed new laws likely to expand number

Texas and Florida accounted for more than half of the executions this year, with Florida putting six inmates to death and Texas executing eight, according to a report by the Death Penalty Information Center.

Dec 5, 2023 8:15 AM CST

Martin Scorsese and Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear discuss making of ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’

The film Killers of the Flower Moon “underscores the critical importance of the rule of law and the pursuit of justice,” said ABA President Mary Smith, who interviewed director Martin Scorsese and Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear of the Osage Nation in the latest installment of the ABA Presidential Speaker Series.

Nov 15, 2023 2:09 PM CST

Did the ‘BTK Killer’ have more victims? Oklahoma sheriff and district attorney spar over cold case

Imagine your child disappears. The authorities get involved, but your baby is nowhere to be found. Days go by without a word. Days turn into months. Months turn into years. Years turn into decades.

Oct 25, 2023 12:00 PM CDT

Judge displayed photos of male lawyers in hot pink chairs, exchanged 500-plus texts during murder trial, petition says

Updated: A judge should be removed from office for exchanging more than 500 texts with a bailiff during a murder trial in which she mocked participant appearances and “displayed gross partiality,” according to a disciplinary petition filed by Oklahoma’s chief justice.

Oct 12, 2023 11:47 AM CDT