By Constitution Staff

There are four state Supreme Court justices, three judges from the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, and five judges from the Court of Civil Appeals on the retention ballot on November 6. Oklahomans voted in 1967 to amend the state Constitution to change the manner in which Oklahoma Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals judges were chosen. Prior to 1967, appellate judges were elected in partisan statewide elections. In 1987, a statute was added that provided retention ballots for judges of the Court of Civil Appeals. The current method provides for a retention ballot on which voters indicate "yes" or "no" on whether an appellate judge should be retained in office.

Judges on these Appellate courts are appointed by the governor from a list of three names of qualified individuals prepared by the Judicial Nominating Commission. Appellate judicial terms are for six years. In cases where they replace a judge who died in office or resigned, they are placed on the retention ballot at the next general election for the remainder of the unexpired term. At the end of their terms, appellate judges must declare their candidacy if they wish to remain in the office. If the judge does not file for retention, or is not retained by voters, the governor appoints a new judge. Thus far, no judge has lost a retention election.

Justices Douglas L. Combs, Noma D. Gurich, Yvonne Kauger, and James E. Edmondson are up for retention on the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Gov. Brad Henry nominated Edmondson, Combs, and Gurich. Justice Kauger was appointed in 1984 by Gov. George Nigh.

Judges Arlene Johnson, David B. Lewis, and Carlene Clancy Smith are up for retention to the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. All three were appointed by Gov. Brad Henry.

There are five justices up for retention on the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals. Judge P. Thomas Thornbrugh was appointed in 2011 by Gov. Mary Fallin. Judge William C. Hetherington, Jr., was appointed in 2009 by Gov. Brad Henry. Judge Robert (Bobby) Bell was appointed by Gov. Henry in 2005. Gov. Frank Keating appointed Judge E. Bay Mitchell in 2002. Judge Kenneth L. Buettner was appointed by Gov. Keating in1996.