Murphy Challenged On Second Donation

Democrat Senate candidate Bob Murphy (pictured) of Stillwater is being challenged today by Republicans to acknowledge the receipt of a $5,000 contribution from the controversial Working Oklahomans Alliance, a political action committee operated by trial lawyers and funded, in large part, by "donations" from workers' comp claim recipients, many of them unemployed.

The challenge follows yesterday's challenge from GOP Senator Clark Jolley over a $650 donation to Murphy from a member of the Judicial Nominating Commission, Jim Loftis. Following Jolley's challenge, Murphy returned the donation and Loftis said he would recuse himself from any action in selecting a district judge in Payne County. Murphy held the post and resigned it to make the Senate race; then, a day before the application deadline to fill the post, he filed to fill his own vacancy. He said he'd prefer to serve in the Senate, but if not, wants to remain a judge.

The Working Oklahomans Alliance reports donating $5,000 to Murphy, yet Murphy has insisted he “can’t locate” the contribution.

“The judge says because he can’t locate the check, it’s a ‘moot point,’” said Randy Swanson, executive director of the Oklahoma Republcan Senatorial Committee.

“It’s not moot. In fact, it’s time for the judge to come clean about the contribution, then do the right thing and turn the money over to charity,” said Swanson. “To return the cash to the Working Oklahomans Alliance would do no good for the aggrieved worker’s comp claimants.

“We suggest that Murphy feed a few hungry Oklahomans by donating this cache of cash to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma City, an organization that serves hungry Oklahomans throughout the state, including feeding centers in Senate District 21,” Swanson suggested.

“This is only just, as Oklahomans from across the state unknowingly and unwillingly contributed to Murphy’s campaign,” he added.

“The clock is running,” Swanson said. “The contribution was made on July 3 – forty days ago. We’re waiting to see how long it takes Judge Murphy to track down that elusive check and do the right thing. We’ll be watching."

A count-up clock is marking time on www.oksenategop.com. The clock will stop when Murphy donates the contribution to the Regional Food Bank or an appropriate charity.

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Murphy Returns Questioned Donation

By Barbara Hoberock/Capitol Bureau, Tulsa World ~ Senate hopeful Bob Murphy Jr. of Stillwater on Monday returned a $650 donation after learning that it came from a member of the panel that helps select judges.

[And after Republican Senator Clark Jolley made the donation public.]

Murphy, a Democrat, applied for the Payne County associate district judgeship that he had resigned in June to run for the Senate District 21 seat. That post is being vacated by Senate Pro Tem Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater, because of term limits. Murphy applied July 31. The deadline was Aug. 1.

On July 14, Murphy's campaign received a $650 donation from Norman attorney Jim Loftis, who serves on the Judicial Nominating Commission. The panel reviews applications for judicial posts and forwards three nominees to the governor, who makes an appointment. Loftis said he learned after making the donation that Murphy applied for the judicial position.

The commission has 13 members, but one post is vacant, Loftis said. Loftis said he will not take part in the process of filling a the judicial position because of the donation.

"I don't think this put me in a bad position," he said. "It is probably the wisest decision to allow the 11 other members to conclude the interview process and make a recommendation to the governor."

Murphy faces former Oklahoma State University President James Halligan, a Republican, on the Nov. 4 Senate ballot.

Murphy said that upon learning of the donation, he ordered his campaign to refund it. "I have not spoken to Mr. Loftis regarding this situation and wish to extend my apology to him," he said. "The donation was made and accepted prior to my decision to apply for the judicial position."

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Jolley Criticizes Judicial Nominating Commission Member's Donation To Bob Murphy

Stillwater Democrat Bob Murphy's decision to seek elective state office and appointive judicial office at the same time has created a conflict of interest for one of his donors, Republican Clark Jolley (pictured) claims today.

Jolley says that Norman attorney Jim Loftis, a member of the Judicial Nominating Commission, has contributed $650 to Murphy’s campaign for the State Senate.

UPDATE: Jim Loftis said this afternoon he will recuse himself from any vote on the Stillwater judicial vacancy.

Jolley called on Loftis to avoid "the clear conflict of interest" caused by Murphy's dual office-seeking by recusing himself from the Judicial Nominating Commission’s candidate nomination process for the vacant Associate District Judge position in Payne County.

Campaign records show that Loftis, one of six attorney members on the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC), contributed $650 to Democrat Bob Murphy’s State Senate campaign on July 14, Jolley said.

Murphy resigned his position as Associate District Judge in June to run for the State Senate, but is now trying to re-attain his old judgeship after filing paperwork with the Judicial Nominating Commission on August 1. As a result, Murphy is seeking both offices simultaneously.

“Mr. Loftis is a contributor to Bob Murphy’s Senate campaign, while also sitting in a position to act on Bob Murphy’s candidacy for the vacant Payne County judgeship. Unfortunately, Mr. Murphy's decision has created a clear conflict of interest for Mr. Loftis,” said Jolley, R-Edmond, an attorney.

Jolley said conflicts of interest are not new to Murphy, as he was removed as presiding judge in the trial of convicted Oklahoma City Bombing co-conspirator Terry Nichols for allowing a conflict of interest to arise between himself and an Oklahoma City trial firm.

”Although Mr. Loftis has done nothing wrong, the right and honorable result of Mr. Murphy's dual office-seeking is for Mr. Loftis to immediately recuse himself from the Judicial Nominating Commission’s nomination process for the Payne County Associate District Judge position,” Jolley stated. “And, given that former and possibly future Judge Murphy has raised nearly 70 percent of his campaign funds from trial lawyers who may one day be trying cases before him again, it’s clear these and other potential donors could feel pressure from Murphy as the campaign progresses.”

Jolley noted that no other of Murphy’s funds appear to have come from members of the Judicial Nominating Commission.

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