With Taylor’s Retirement, Fallin Gets First Chance To Appoint State Justice
Fallin will get her first opportunity to appoint Supreme Court justice
By Rick Green
Next year, Republican Gov. Mary Fallin will have her first chance to appoint an Oklahoma Supreme Court justice, selecting from nominees appointed by a commission that has drawn criticism as highly politicized and heavily weighted with trial lawyers.
Justice Steven Taylor, who will retire at the end of this year, was appointed by Democratic Gov. Brad Henry.
Fallin will select his successor from one of three nominees put forward by the Judicial Nominating Commission.
Of the nine justices on Oklahoma’s top court, only one, James Winchester, was appointed by a Republican governor, Frank Keating. That means the court will remain dominated by justices selected by Democratic governors even after Taylor leaves.