Opinion ID: 2607473
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Oklahoma's jurisprudential and statutory law

Text: The procedure for invoking new trial relief is found in §§ 651, [22] 653, [23] 654 [24] and 655. [25] A new trial quest may be sought either by a § 655 petition or by a § 651 motion. The movant or petitioner, as the case may be, must substantially comply with this statutory scheme. [26] A § 655 petition triggers a special post-judgment proceeding governed solely by procedure set forth in that section, which must be read together with §§ 651(7) and (9), [27] 653 and 654. The grounds for § 655 relief are limited to newly discovered evidence and impossibility of making a record. [28] Section 654 provides that a quest for new trial on these grounds must be sustained by affidavits, showing their truth. [29] In the case of newly discovered evidence, § 653 provides that it must be material evidence the petitioner could not, with reasonable diligence, have discovered and produced at trial. [30] Two time limits are provided for § 655 relief  30 days for filing a new trial quest upon discovery or occurrence and a one-year outer limit from the time when judgment first becomes appealable. [31] In contrast, a § 651 motion for new trial must be brought not more than ten days after the verdict, report or decision is rendered [32] and is limited to § 651 grounds. [33] By an unbroken line of authority our jurisprudence has established that a new trial quest grounded on newly discovered evidence, whether by § 655 petition or § 651 motion, must be supported (a) by affidavits of witnesses showing the truthfulness of the matter alleged and (b) by a verified § 655 petition or § 651 motion stating that the evidence could not with reasonable diligence have been produced at trial. [34] The cogent rationale for mandated conformity to the verification and affidavit requirement is twofold  to prevent a solemn jury verdict from being set aside on mere unsupported allegations and to protect the rights of successful parties. [35] B.