Civil Judiciary

House Committee

Committee on Civil Judiciary

Committees News & Announcements


Feb 6, 2025
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Lauria and Ashley's Law Passes First Committee

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami, today secured committee passage of a bill that would add accessory to murder in the first or second degree to the list of crimes that would require an offender to serve 85% of their prison sentence before being eligible for consideration for parole. Those convicted also would not be eligible to earn any type of credits that would reduce the sentence to below 85% of what was imposed. House Bill 1001 is named Lauria and Ashley's Law after 16-year-olds Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman, of Welch, who were kidnapped, tortured, raped and killed on New Year's Eve 1999. It is presumed their bodies were dumped in a Pitcher mine pit, but their remains have not been recovered. Ashley's parents, Danny and Kathy Freeman, were shot to death in the crime. Their remains were found in their mobile home that had been set on fire. "This bill is named after two girls in my House district who had unspeakable things happen to them," Bashore explained to committee members. "Yet the person who admitted to participating in this crime served less than three years in prison and had his prison sentence reduced because of credits earned for thing such as maintaining good hygiene. He then was allowed to move less than 20 miles from the mother of one of the girls. This law is trying to keep these type of perpetrators in prison for at least 85% of the time to which they are sentenced." HB1001 passed in the House Civil Judiciary Committee on a vote of 6 to 1, with one Democrat dissenting. The measure now is eligible to be considered in the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight. Bashore said a similar bill passed the House last year with an overwhelming majority, but the bill was not considered in the Senate. The legislation addresses the reduced prison sentence of a man charged with accessory to felony murder in the case. Ronnie Busick in 2020 received a 10-year prison sentence with five years' probation, but only one year supervised. Because of good-days earned while incarcerated as well as time credited while in a county jail, Busick was released after just three years in prison. He was released back into the community where the crimes were committed, in close proximity to where family members of the victims still live. It is reported that Busick received a lessened sentence in exchange for information leading to the discovery of the teens' bodies. They still have not been found.  Bashore said this would assure family members of other felony murder victims going forward that any person convicted and sentenced to participating in such a crime would have a lengthier time behind bars.



Oct 10, 2024
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Harris Holds Interim Study on Judicial Reform

 Rep. Erick Harris, R-Edmond, held an interim study on Wednesday examining Oklahoma's Judicial Nomination Commission (JNC).  IS-24-094 was held before the House Judiciary-Civil Committee. "The purpose of this interim study is solely to review the method we use in Oklahoma to select our judges, both district court and appellate judges," Harris said. "We've had several proposals over the past couple of years; this being my first year, there was one that received attention and brought up some questions to me as a freshman member and bar member." Jim Webb, former JNC Chairman, discussed the Judicial Nominating Committee's history, overview, and structure. Oklahoma's Judicial Nominating Commission was established in 1967 and started operating in 1969 in response to the Supreme Court Justice bribery scandal. The JNC has 15 members: six lawyers elected for six-year terms based on 1967 Congressional districts and nine non-lawyers appointed for various terms by the governor and legislative leaders, with limits on political party representation. Non-lawyers cannot have immediate family members who are lawyers. JNC members are prohibited from holding other public office or serving successive terms, with lawyers ineligible to become judicial candidates through the JNC for five years after serving. "It's designed to be as free from partisan influence as possible," Webb said. Applicants submit their applications to the Judicial Nominating Commission for a judicial office, which nominates three candidates for the governor to appoint. If the governor does not make an appointment within sixty days, the Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court will make the appointment. Rick Johnson, a former Republican JNC lay member appointed by Governor Fallin in 2017, provided his insights on the role and responsibilities of a lay member within the JNC. The final speaker, Janet Johnson, executive director of the Oklahoma Bar Association, discussed how there are multiple systems for multiple levels of selection, highlighting how they are generally three categories: merit-based, appointment-based, and election-based. The merit-based selection, Missouri plan, considers applicants using a nonpartisan body first. Johnson said in Oklahoma, we adopted a Modified Missouri Plan, where we select district judges in nonpartisan elections for regular vacancies. Fourteen states, including Oklahoma, use the Missouri Plan for their State Supreme Court vacancies. Also, common here in Oklahoma, Johnson said, is appointments, where the governor appoints judges or justices after receiving a list from the JNC. Some states allow for legislative input; in Oklahoma, the Legislature has appointments to the JNC; in 14 states, nominees are subject to legislative confirmation. During the study, Harris and other members discussed possible reforms to the JNC. Harris ended the interim study, thanking everyone for their participation. Harris’ intent is to gather additional information on possible reforms with a goal to introduce legislation next session that modernizes the JNC. IS-24-094 can be viewed on the House website, OKHouse.gov, under the News & Media Tab. Click on Live Proceedings, and search Calendar-Day/Month for Oct. 9, then select the Judiciary-Civil Committee.



Mar 14, 2024
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House Passes Bill allowing Law Officers to Review Camera Footage Prior to report

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow, this week passed legislation in the House that would allow police to review camera footage before completing reports or making statements regarding events while they are performing their official duties.  House Bill 3598 would require law enforcement agencies that utilize any type of camera system – including fixed security cameras in a police station or law enforcement office, vehicle mounted cameras, or body cameras worn by peace officers – to establish policies and procedures addressing the proper use, maintenance, and storage of the various cameras and the data recorded. The policies would be individual to each entity, but they must include guidelines that permit a peace officer to review the recorded data before writing a report or providing a statement about any event during performance of their official duties. "We're looking for accuracy," Ford said. Ford, a former police officer, said this would be akin to referring to notes taken at a crime scene before completing reports, or the same as allowing officers the ability to look at documents to refresh their memory before they go to court. The policies also must include guidelines regarding the proper release of audio and video data in compliance with the Oklahoma Open Records Act. Ford said he filed an amendment to the bill that specifies that any policy permitting review of recorded footage by a peace officer may not be used to delay or deny records requests or public access to recorded footage from such cameras. Ford also passed House Bill 3885 on the House floor. The measure would extend the amount of time municipal or district courts would have to file for misdemeanor warrants for a traffic citation when a defendant was released on personal recognizance but failed to appear in court and no arrangement was made with the court to satisfy the citation. The bill moves the requirement to file the warrant from 120 days to one year, giving municipalities and courts more time to obtain accurate records from Service Oklahoma. The measures now move to the Senate for consideration. 


Committee Members

(9)

Chair

Collin Duel

R

District 31

Vice Chair

Bob Culver

R

District 4

Jared Deck

D

District 44

Chris Kannady

R

District 91

Mike Osburn

R

District 81

Suzanne Schreiber

D

District 70

Chris Sneed

R

District 14

Preston Stinson

R

District 96

Tammy West

R

District 84

House Staff Assigned

Grace Shelton

Deputy Chief Counsel

Quyen Do

Deputy Research Director

Robert Flipping

Fiscal Policy Analyst

Audrey Oliphant

Staff Attorney II