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Oklahoma Supreme Court elections, 2020
| 2020 State Judicial Elections | |
|---|---|
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Oklahoma is one of two states with two courts of last resort. The Oklahoma Supreme Court is the court of last resort in the state for civil matters, while the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals is the court of last resort in the state for criminal matters. Three Supreme Court justices and two Court of Criminal Appeals justices won retention elections on November 3, 2020.
Election procedure changes in 2020
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
Oklahoma modified its absentee/mail-in voting procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:
- Absentee/mail-in voting: Voters casting absentee ballots could submit copies of their identification in lieu of fulfilling the notarization requirement in the event of a state of emergency occurring within 45 days of an election. Individuals experiencing symptoms indicative of COVID-19, and individuals classified as vulnerable to infection, could cast an absentee ballot under the 'physical incapacitation' eligibility criterion.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Candidates and results
Supreme Court
District 1
Oklahoma Supreme Court District 1
M. John Kane IV was retained to District 1 of the Oklahoma Supreme Court on November 3, 2020 with 68.9% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
68.9
|
952,811 | ||
No |
31.1
|
430,580 | |||
Total Votes |
1,383,391 | ||||
|
|
District 6
Oklahoma Supreme Court District 6
Tom Colbert was retained to District 6 of the Oklahoma Supreme Court on November 3, 2020 with 67.4% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
67.4
|
937,156 | ||
No |
32.6
|
453,366 | |||
Total Votes |
1,390,522 | ||||
|
|
District 9
Oklahoma Supreme Court District 9
Richard Darby was retained to District 9 of the Oklahoma Supreme Court on November 3, 2020 with 67.7% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
67.7
|
932,936 | ||
No |
32.3
|
445,176 | |||
Total Votes |
1,378,112 | ||||
|
|
Court of Criminal Appeals
District 2
Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals District 2
Rob Hudson was retained to District 2 of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on November 3, 2020 with 68.0% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
68.0
|
934,578 | ||
No |
32.0
|
440,285 | |||
Total Votes |
1,374,863 | ||||
|
|
District 3
Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals District 3
Gary Lumpkin was retained to District 3 of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on November 3, 2020 with 66.9% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
66.9
|
917,375 | ||
No |
33.1
|
453,264 | |||
Total Votes |
1,370,639 | ||||
|
|
Past elections
2018
- See also: Oklahoma Supreme Court elections, 2018
Oklahoma Supreme Court
Oklahoma Supreme Court District 7
James Edmondson was retained to District 7 of the Oklahoma Supreme Court on November 6, 2018 with 59.4% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
59.4
|
611,334 | ||
No |
40.6
|
417,846 | |||
Total Votes |
1,029,180 | ||||
|
|
Oklahoma Supreme Court District 4
Yvonne Kauger was retained to District 4 of the Oklahoma Supreme Court on November 6, 2018 with 62.2% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
62.2
|
637,315 | ||
No |
37.8
|
387,447 | |||
Total Votes |
1,024,762 | ||||
|
|
Oklahoma Supreme Court District 3
Noma D. Gurich was retained to District 3 of the Oklahoma Supreme Court on November 6, 2018 with 61.6% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
61.6
|
631,733 | ||
No |
38.4
|
394,373 | |||
Total Votes |
1,026,106 | ||||
|
|
Oklahoma Supreme Court District 2
Patrick Wyrick was retained to District 2 of the Oklahoma Supreme Court on November 6, 2018 with 61.6% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
61.6
|
635,334 | ||
No |
38.4
|
395,216 | |||
Total Votes |
1,030,550 | ||||
|
|
Click [show] at the right to view more past election results. | |
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2016
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About the Oklahoma Supreme Court
- See also: Oklahoma Supreme Court
The Oklahoma Supreme Court is composed of nine justices who are appointed by the governor and then must stand for retention by voters thereafter. A full term on the court is six years. Retention elections take place during Oklahoma's general elections, which are held every two years in even-numbered years.
Political composition
This was the political composition of the supreme court heading into the 2020 election. Justices in Oklahoma are appointed by the governor and retained by voters thereafter.
| ■ Tom Colbert | Appointed by Gov. Brad Henry (D) in 2004 | |
| ■ Douglas L. Combs | Appointed by Gov. Brad Henry (D) in 2010 | |
| ■ Richard Darby | Appointed by Gov. Mary Fallin (R) in 2018 | |
| ■ James Edmondson | Appointed by Gov. Brad Henry (D) in 2003 | |
| ■ Noma D. Gurich | Appointed by Gov. Brad Henry (D) in 2011 | |
| ■ Yvonne Kauger | Appointed by Gov. George Nigh (D) in 1984 | |
| ■ James R. Winchester | Appointed by Gov. Frank Keating (R) in 2000 | |
| ■ M. John Kane IV | Appointed by Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) in 2019 | |
| ■ Dustin Rowe | Appointed by Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) in 2019 |
About the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals
- See also: Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals
The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals is composed of five judges who are appointed by the governor and then must stand for retention by voters thereafter. A full term on the court is six years.
Political composition
This was the political composition of the court of criminal appeals heading into the 2020 election. Judges in Oklahoma are appointed by the governor and retained by voters thereafter.
| ■ Rob Hudson | Appointed by Gov. Mary Fallin (R) in 2015 | |
| ■ Dana Kuehn | Appointed by Gov. Mary Fallin (R) in 2017 | |
| ■ David B. Lewis | Appointed by Gov. Brad Henry (D) in 2005 | |
| ■ Gary Lumpkin | Appointed by Gov. Henry Bellmon (R) in 1989 | |
| ■ Scott Rowland | Appointed by Gov. Mary Fallin (R) in 2017 |
Selection
- See also: Judicial selection in Oklahoma
The nine justices of the Oklahoma Supreme Court are appointed by the governor from a list of three names compiled by a nominating commission and serve initial terms of at least one year.[1] If voters opt to retain an appointee during the next general election, that judge will go on to serve either a full six-year term or to serve out the unexpired term of his or her predecessor.[2]
See also
External links
Footnotes
Federal courts:
Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Oklahoma, Northern District of Oklahoma, Western District of Oklahoma • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Oklahoma, Northern District of Oklahoma, Western District of Oklahoma
State courts:
Oklahoma Supreme Court • Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals • Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals • Oklahoma District Courts • Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Court of Existing Claims
State resources:
Courts in Oklahoma • Oklahoma judicial elections • Judicial selection in Oklahoma
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