Court Opinion

ID: 9786086
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-30 23:46:51.339602+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:43:06.903859
License: Public Domain

WINCHESTER, J.,
concurs in part, dissents in part:
1 1 I concur in that portion of the majority opinion which clarifies the procedural issues under a Rule 15 disqualification. I dissent to that portion of today's pronouncement (see 116) which would ipso facto disqualify a judge merely because one of the lawyers appearing before the court contributed to the judge's campaign. The issue of possible bias based upon a campaign contribution is only one element to be considered, but the majority's opinion sets a new standard whereby making a legal campaign contribution alone can cause a judge to be disqualified.
T2 The citizens of Oklahoma have chosen public elections as the method to hold judges accountable. The rules governing judicial campaign contributions are clear and contribution records are open to the public. Canon 5(C)(2) of the Code of Judicial Conduct, codified at 5 O.S.Supp.2000, Ch. 1, App. 4, prohibits a judicial candidate from personally soliciting campaign contributions and provides a campaign committee may solicit and/or accept contributions and public support no earlier than 90 days before an election filing period and no later than 30 days after the last election. The legislature has clearly limited an individual or family contribution to a maximum $5,000.00. See 21 O.S.Supp.2000, § 187.1 (A). In addition, "family" is defined in the previous section, § 187(9), to mean "an individual, his or her spouse, if any, and all children under the age of eighteen (18) years residing in the same household." - Campaign contributions may not be used for the private benefit of the candidate or others. Thus, the system contains safeguards to insulate the judge from contributions and provides the means for a judicial candidate to inform voters of his or her qualifications so they can make an informed choice.
138 The majority's holding is based upon the inaccurate presumption that a campaign contribution from an attorney, limited by statute to $5,000.00 maximum, will "bank" judicial influence in a judicial race that costs as much as $100,000.00. The fallacy in this presumption is self-evident,. The majority's *802opinion creates uncertainty for bench and bar that potentially could lead to an administrative quagmire in the state's metropolitan counties and an administrative shut down in non-metropolitan counties, particularly those that have only one associate district or a limited number of judges in a district. Attorneys frequently contribute to each candidate. I would not presume prejudice on the judiciary nor presume the bar was responding other than as dictated by the elective process set by the citizens and the legislature. The reality is, most judges would go to great lengths to be fair to both parties.
T4 The majority's pronouncement creates uncertainty in other areas of social and civic activity between bench and bar. It opens the door for the ereative lawyer to contribute to a judge's campaign knowing he can have the judge disqualified when convenient. This rule creates a new way to forum shop. I dissent.