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Oklahoma State Question 623, Modifying Jury Trials Amendment (August 1990)

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Oklahoma State Question 623

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Election date

August 28, 1990

Topic
Civil trials and Criminal trials
Status

ApprovedApproved

Type
Legislatively referred constitutional amendment
Origin

State legislature



Oklahoma State Question 623 was on the ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in Oklahoma on August 28, 1990. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supports raising the monetary threshold for jury trials to over $1,500, requiring 12-person juries for civil cases over $10,000 and felony trials, allowing six-person juries for other trials, and requiring unanimous verdicts for criminal cases with over six months of jail time.

A "no" vote opposed raising the monetary threshold for jury trials to over $1,500, requiring 12-person juries for civil cases over $10,000 and felony trials, allowing six-person juries for other trials, and requiring unanimous verdicts for criminal cases with over six months of jail time.


Election results

Oklahoma State Question 623

Result Votes Percentage

Approved Yes

436,904 62.67%
No 260,266 37.33%
Results are officially certified.
Source


Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for State Question 623 was as follows:

This measure amends Section 19 of Article II of the State Constitution. Presently, jury trials are allowed for civil cases involving $100.00 or more and for criminal cases with fines of $100.00 or more. This measure would raise the requirement to more than $1,500.00 for both civil cases and criminal cases. Presently six person juries are allowed only in some civil cases involving less than $2,500.00. This measure would require 12 person juries in civil trials involving more than $10,000.00 and for all felony trials. Other trials would require six person juries. The parties could agree to smaller juries in any case. Presently, unanimous jury verdicts are required only in felony trials. This measure would require unanimous verdicts only in criminal cases with punishment exceeding six months in jail. Only 3/4 verdicts would be required in other cases.


Path to the ballot

See also: Amending the Oklahoma Constitution

A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for the Oklahoma State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 51 votes in the Oklahoma House of Representatives and 24 votes in the Oklahoma State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

See also


External links

Footnotes