Oklahoma High Court Finds Business Courts Unconstitutional (1)

A new law that would create Oklahoma’s first business court system is unconstitutional, the state’s highest court said.

The governor supported the business courts in the state’s largest judicial districts, calling them “a game-changer” that would help Oklahoma compete with Delaware, Texas, and other states for large companies and investments. Two Oklahoma City lawyers sued to block the plan, saying it unconstitutionally bypassed a voter-approved judicial nominating commission and created a barrier to court access by imposing a $1,500 filing fee.

“The Constitution does not reserve any power to the Legislature to create new courts outside of intermediate appellate courts ...