Judicial Reform Passes Senate

Senate Bill 609 by Senator Todd Lamb, passed out of the Senate Tuesday.

The provisions in Senate Bill 609 reduce the number of judges on the Workers’ Compensation Court from ten to seven. Four of the judges will be permanently assigned to the Oklahoma City Workers' Compensation Court, and three permanently assigned to the Tulsa Workers' Compensation Court.

Senate Bill 609 also brings reform to the judicial nominating process by requiring Senate confirmation of appointments to the Workers Compensation Court and appellate courts.

“This is a first step in reforming a workers compensation system in much need of overhaul,” said Lamb. “Politics are removed from the judicial nominating process through this legislation by promoting a checks and balances system, just as our founding fathers intended. One of our goals as Senate Republicans has always been to bring reform to Oklahoma’s legal system, and I am encouraged to see the beginning of that process today.”

Lamb also said that within the first year, the provisions in Senate Bill 609 will save taxpayers over $400,000. Senate Bill 609 will now go to the House of Representatives for consideration.