Oklahoma

Catholic charter school won’t receive state funding after Supreme Court splits on free exercise issue

A decision by the Oklahoma Supreme Court striking down state funding for an online Catholic charter school remains intact after the U.S. Supreme Court split 4-4 on First Amendment issues in the case.

May 22, 2025 10:30 AM CDT

6 firms resolved EEOC probes with pro bono deals, they told state attorneys general

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and Milbank are among six law firms that resolved probes of their diversity practices by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, they told state attorneys general.

May 13, 2025 9:16 AM CDT

Chief justice appears to be ‘pivotal vote’ in challenge to state-funded religious school in Oklahoma

Does the First Amendment allow or require Oklahoma to fund a Catholic charter school? Chief Justice John Roberts emerged as “a pivotal vote" on that question during oral arguments Wednesday, Bloomberg Law reports.

Apr 30, 2025 3:44 PM CDT

‘Secrets of the Killing State’ exposes realities of lethal injection

Execution by lethal injection is seen by many Americans as a less barbaric alternative than older methods, such as hanging, firing squads and electrocution. It is easy to assume that the process must resemble euthanasia procedures for terminally ill people or pets. The reality is very different, says Corinna Barrett Lain, a law professor and a death-penalty expert.

Apr 23, 2025 8:51 AM CDT

Prosecutor gets suspension for invading jury’s ‘inner sanctum’

An Oklahoma lawyer has been suspended for six months for watching real-time jury deliberations on a monitor in a murder case that he prosecuted.

Mar 27, 2025 10:27 AM CDT

SCOTUS once again grapples with First Amendment religion clauses in Wisconsin employment tax case

While cases stemming from the second Trump administration’s torrent of executive actions begin to work their way up to the U.S. Supreme Court on the emergency docket, the court still has some important cases to hear in the final two months of argument for the term.

Mar 27, 2025 9:53 AM CDT

State’s failure to correct accuser’s lithium testimony entitles death row inmate to new trial, SCOTUS rules

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that an Oklahoma death row inmate is entitled to a new trial because the prosecution failed to correct testimony by the man who implicated him.

Feb 25, 2025 2:28 PM CST

States are starting to offer reduced prison time to survivors of domestic violence

According to one study of women in Oklahoma’s prisons, 66% were abused by a partner the year before they were incarcerated. The state has a new law that allows domestic violence survivors to seek shorter sentences. Oklahoma is one of only a handful of states to pass laws that provide sentencing relief specifically for domestic violence survivors.

Feb 1, 2025 1:00 AM CST

Supreme Court will decide whether Oklahoma can fund Catholic charter school

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to decide whether the First Amendment allows Oklahoma to fund a Catholic online school as part of its charter school program.

Jan 27, 2025 10:16 AM CST

Death row inmate can pursue due process appeal over sex-life evidence admitted at trial, Supreme Court says

A death row inmate can pursue a claim that her Oklahoma trial was prejudiced by the introduction of evidence about her sex life, provocative clothing and thong underwear, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.

Jan 22, 2025 10:40 AM CST

Opioid suits can’t be based on nuisance law in Ohio, top state court rules in $650M win for pharmacies

A decision by the Ohio Supreme Court on the state’s product-liability law is good news for three national pharmaceutical chains ordered to pay more than $650 million for contributing to the opioid epidemic.

Dec 12, 2024 3:23 PM CST

SCOTUS seems closely divided on new trial for Oklahoma death row inmate

The Supreme Court appeared closely divided Wednesday over whether to order a new trial for Oklahoma death-row inmate Richard Glossip, whose case has attracted support from across the political spectrum after independent investigations revealed prosecutorial misconduct.

Oct 9, 2024 3:50 PM CDT

Supreme Court allows HHS to divert funds over abortion referrals

The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for the Biden administration to strip millions of health care dollars from Oklahoma over its refusal to direct patients to information about abortions—a federal requirement that the state says would be at odds with its strict ban on terminating pregnancies.

Sep 5, 2024 10:30 AM CDT

Judge accused in drive-by shootings has progressive brain disease, court filing says

An Oklahoma judge accused in two drive-by shootings has frontotemporal dementia, a disease that can cause “bizarre out-of-character behavior" changes, his lawyers said in an Aug. 28 court filing.

Sep 3, 2024 10:14 AM CDT

SCOTUS could be next stop after top Oklahoma court rules on state-funded religious school

A contract providing for state funding of an online Catholic charter school violates the First Amendment’s establishment clause, the Oklahoma Constitution and a state law governing charter schools, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.

Jun 25, 2024 3:29 PM CDT