Coffee: Henry Trip 'Smells A Little Like Catfish Bait'
Oklahoma Senate Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee said Friday that Governor Brad Henry's Brazil fishing trip with trial lawyers gives the appearance of a conflict of interest, and highlights the need to reform Oklahoma’s judicial nominating process.
“In Oklahoma, the Judicial Nominating Commission is supposed to be independent in its recommendations of judicial appointments to the governor,” said Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.
“But when you have current members of the commission – including a non-attorney member – on an exotic fishing trip with the governor and several influential trial lawyers, it gives the appearance of a conflict of interest. It smells a little like catfish bait,” he said.
Coffee said the South American fishing trip highlights the need for reforms in Oklahoma’s process for nominating judges and justices. Coffee said a wide range of reforms could be considered, such as requiring Senate confirmation for judicial appointments, to prevent conflicts of interest and to ensure a good system of checks and balances is in place.
“There needs to be a better system of checks and balances in place, and that’s something the Legislature should perhaps look at during the 2008 session” Coffee stated. “Senate confirmation of judges has worked pretty well at the federal level for more than 200 years, so it would make sense for us to look at that here in Oklahoma,” he said.
Regarding Henry’s fishing expedition, Coffee wished the governor luck: “Maybe he’ll catch something he can hang on the wall next to his tort reform veto.”
“In Oklahoma, the Judicial Nominating Commission is supposed to be independent in its recommendations of judicial appointments to the governor,” said Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.
“But when you have current members of the commission – including a non-attorney member – on an exotic fishing trip with the governor and several influential trial lawyers, it gives the appearance of a conflict of interest. It smells a little like catfish bait,” he said.
Coffee said the South American fishing trip highlights the need for reforms in Oklahoma’s process for nominating judges and justices. Coffee said a wide range of reforms could be considered, such as requiring Senate confirmation for judicial appointments, to prevent conflicts of interest and to ensure a good system of checks and balances is in place.
“There needs to be a better system of checks and balances in place, and that’s something the Legislature should perhaps look at during the 2008 session” Coffee stated. “Senate confirmation of judges has worked pretty well at the federal level for more than 200 years, so it would make sense for us to look at that here in Oklahoma,” he said.
Regarding Henry’s fishing expedition, Coffee wished the governor luck: “Maybe he’ll catch something he can hang on the wall next to his tort reform veto.”
Labels: 2007 Brazil Trip, Brad Henry, Glenn Coffee
posted by Mike McCarville @ 12:17 PM
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