OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma voters would get to decide whether to give the governor more power in how certain judges are selected under a bill approved by the state Senate.
The Senate voted 33-13 on Wednesday to approve the plan and send it to the House for consideration.
The bill applies to how vacancies are filled on the Supreme Court and Oklahoma appellate courts. Currently, the governor selects judges from a list of three finalists forwarded from the Judicial Nominating Commission.
Under the bill by Moore Republican Sen. Anthony Sykes, if approved by voters, the Judicial Nominating Commission would only rank the candidates, but the governor could pick any applicant. A legislative committee would confirm the governor's pick.