The Oklahoma Supreme Court refused to even hear the merits of a challenge to the Patrick Wyrick nomination, by Gov. Fallin. He's been living and working in OKC, as member of the state's legal team. But the constitution mandates that someone living in S.E. Oklahoma(Judicial District 2) be appointed to this seat, which was vacated by the retirement of Steven Taylor. Two Oklahomans from District 2 filed a constitutional challenge within the week. Their evidence is very detailed and very hard to refute. We posted the affidavit, here. But the remaining members of the OSC dismissed the matter, saying that the plaintiffs neither filed soon enough, nor have a right to bring the suit. The Supreme Court ruling says that common citizens do not have standing to demand a correction to a constitutional violation. They say that only the Attorney General of one of the District Attorneys can legally file suit. the only other common citizens who can file are the other 2 nominees whom the governor did not select. They also say that the suit must be filed prior to the governor's selection. When the nomination committee chooses 3 finalists and sends their list to the governor, only then can a qualified petitioner (of which there are but a few; can question or challenge the process. The majority opinion is published here. News 4 OKC filed their brief report in March. |
OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the residency of newly appointed Supreme Court Justice Patrick Wyrick. The state’s highest court ruled Tuesday that the lawsuit was not timely filed and that two southeastern Oklahoma residents who filed it did not have legal standing to challenge Wyrick’s residency. Gov. Mary Fallin appointed Wyrick to a vacancy on the court from southeastern Oklahoma last month. The lawsuit alleged Wyrick does not live in the judicial district where he claims to reside and is not qualified to serve in the seat. The ruling says a lawsuit contesting Wyrick’s qualifications to serve must be filed by the attorney general, a district attorney or a contestant for the office. Wyrick is a former solicitor general for the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office. |