Oklahoma § 63-685.7 - Special emergency judges

§ 63-685.7. Special emergency judges

Whenever an emergency or disaster occurs in the United States,

and in the event that any judge of any court is unavailable to

exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office, and no

other judge authorized to act or no special judge appointed in

accordance with the provisions of the Constitution or statutes is

available to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of such

office, the duties of the office shall be discharged and the powers

exercised by the special emergency judges, each of whom shall

otherwise be qualified to serve as a judge, as hereinafter provided

for:

1. The Governor shall designate for each member of the Supreme

Court special emergency judges in the number of not less than three

nor more than seven for each member of said court, and shall specify

the order of their succession.

2. The Governor shall designate for each member of the Court of

Criminal Appeals special emergency judges in the number of not less

than three nor more than seven for each member of said court, and

shall specify the order of their succession.

3. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in consultation with

the other members of said court, shall designate for each court of

record, except the Supreme Court and the Court of Criminal Appeals,

special emergency judges in the number of not less than three nor

more than seven for each judge of said courts and shall specify

their order of succession.

4. The judge of the district court, or the senior judge of any

such district, in consultation with the other district judges of

that district, where there is more than one judge shall designate

not less than three nor more than seven emergency judges for courts

not of record within that district and shall specify their order of

succession.

Such special emergency judges shall, in the order specified,

exercise the powers and discharge the duties of such office in case

of the unavailability of the regular judge or judges or persons

immediately preceding them in the designation. The designating

authority shall review and revise, as necessary, designations made

pursuant to this act to ensure their current status.

Said special emergency judges shall discharge the duties and

exercise the powers of such office until such time as a vacancy

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 63. Public Health and Safety

which may exist shall be filled in accordance with the Constitution

and statutes or until the regular judge or one preceding the

designee in the order of succession becomes available to exercise

the powers and discharge the duties of the office.

Added by Laws 1959, p. 213, § 7, emerg. eff. June 5, 1959. Amended

by Laws 1963, c. 270, § 7, emerg. eff. June 13, 1963; Laws 2003, c.

329, § 33, emerg. eff. May 29, 2003.