Oklahoma's liberal Supreme Court continues to do what it has done for years -- in a 6-3 decision, justices overturned two 2022 laws restricting abortion. It's past time for judicial reform -- read Column: OK Supreme Court abortion ruling points to the need for judicial reform from April.
Below are comments from Gov. Kevin Stitt, Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, and State Sens. David Bullard and Julie Daniels, and the Oklahoma Republican Party (Chairman State Sen. Nathan Dahm, Vice Chair Wayne Hill, and National Committeewoman Pam Pollard):
GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT ISSUES STATEMENT CRITICIZING OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT OPINION
OKLAHOMA CITY (May 31, 2023) - Governor Kevin Stitt issued the following statement criticizing the Oklahoma Supreme Court's 6-3 opinion released today regarding abortion in the state of Oklahoma:
"I again wholeheartedly disagree with the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s use of activism to create a right to an abortion in Oklahoma. This court has once more over-involved itself in the state's democratic process, and has interceded to undo legislation created by the will of the people. I agree with Justice Rowe’s dissent, 'The issues presented in this matter are political questions, which are better resolved by the people via our democratic process.'"
"As governor, I will continue to do my part to fight to protect the lives of the unborn. From the moment life begins at conception, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to protect that baby's life and the life of the mother. Oklahoma will keep working to be the most pro-family state in the nation.”
Pro Tem Treat Comments on Oklahoma Supreme Court Ruling Regarding Pro Life Legislation
OKLAHOMA CITY (May 31st) - Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, today released the following statement after the Oklahoma Supreme Court found Senate Bill 1503 and House Bill 4327 unconstitutional.
“The court’s ruling today has little to no impact regarding abortion in Oklahoma. The ruling has no authority over Oklahoma’s criminal penalties for doctors who perform an abortion. After the U.S. Supreme Court accurately ruled in 2022 there is no constitutional right to an abortion in the United States, it remains illegal to get an abortion in Oklahoma, unless it is to save the life of the mother. The state Supreme Court continues to ignore precedent set by federal and state law and keeps making political decisions outside their authority. Today’s decision is another example of why comprehensive judicial reform is needed sooner than later. In the meantime, it is important for Oklahomans to know that leaders in the legislature are committed to the right to life in Oklahoma.” – Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat
Sen. Bullard comments on Oklahoma Supreme Court abortion ruling
OKLAHOMA CITY (May 31st) – Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, released the following statement Wednesday regarding the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling Senate Bill 1503 and House Bill 4327 unconstitutional. Bullard served as a co-author of HB 4327.
“It is a peculiar thing to have a Supreme Court in Oklahoma that is so out of tune with the Constitution and citizens that they would rule a law unconstitutional for having the very exception for the life of the mother, which they claim makes it unconstitutional. Every bill they have struck down already had an exception for the life of the mother. The reality is that this court continues to make the same mistake of the court in 1973 by only applying the right to life to one person involved in the abortion. The unborn person has committed no crime and should not be convicted and sentenced to death by inept judges. They also continue, with each radical left ruling, to make themselves incompetent and out of touch with the state they serve. They are, however, making judicial reform more and more of a necessity and the Legislature will reform the courts to be what they should have been all along.”
Sen. Daniels statement on Supreme Court ruling pro-life laws unconstitutional
OKLAHOMA CITY (May 31st) – Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, released the following statement Wednesday after the Supreme Court ruled her Senate Bill 1503 and House Bill 4327 unconstitutional.
“On Wednesday, a rogue Oklahoma Supreme Court, acting as self-appointed legislators, unleashed another attack on Oklahoma’s unborn children. The court also thumbed its nose at the Legislature and showed their contempt for the separation of powers.
“These laws ensuring abortionists faced paying damages and the loss of their medical licenses was already precedent in other states, such as Texas.
“Our court should have dismissed these two lawsuits last year. Instead, they ignored the fact that the government can’t be the defendant under these civil laws.
“In both decisions, the majority said not one word about a right to life of the unborn child. This is a dangerous game the Supreme Court is playing in terms of judicial activism. It should be a wakeup call to my colleagues that we need to strongly consider legislative intervention to avoid any more erosion to pro-life measures, or any other pieces of legislation that the Oklahoma Supreme Court doesn’t like.
“The Legislature had an opportunity to clarify our pro-life statutes this legislative session. SB 834 would have made language, including definitions and exceptions, consistent throughout our laws that could have thwarted this attack on the right to life in our state. We had a duty to use our legislative authority to act to protect unborn children from unelected pro-abortion justices. I am gravely disappointed and saddened that we stood silent. We still have options. We must work quickly. We must work together.”
OKLAHOMA CITY (May 31st) – Today, Nathan Dahm, Chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party, and Wayne Hill, Vice-Chairman, along with Pam Pollard, Oklahoma National Committeewoman, issued the following statements regarding the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s opinion to stop enforcement of laws prohibiting abortion in Oklahoma.
“This is yet another example of the supposed ‘High Court’ demonstrating the blatant prejudice the majority of the Justices have toward protecting the right to life.” Dahm said. “In their previous opinion the Court attempted to create a Constitutional right to abortion using statutory language enacted well after the adoption of the Constitution. These activist judges need to be held accountable, so they stop attempting to legislate their immoral & unfounded opinions from the bench.”
The lawsuit was brought by abortionists challenging HB4327 and SB1603 passed overwhelmingly by the Oklahoma Legislature and signed into law by Governor Stitt in 2022.
“Not only did these incompetent judges attempt to create a right to kill an innocent child, they also have blatantly ignored severability,” Dahm said. “This should be an impeachable offense and the Oklahoma Republican Party supports all legislative measures to rein in these rogue judges.”
"This is another example of judicial activism by our Oklahoma Supreme Court and creating, “so called rights” where they don’t exist. As God’s children from conception, a child has the same God-given rights as you and I, Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. It is our responsibility to protect those Rights for the unborn. Unfortunately, the victims are innocent children being slaughtered in the womb. There is no constitutional justification for the intentional manipulation of law in order to advocate for the Justice's political bias. I am in complete agreement with the above statements by Chairman Dahm and believe this decision constitutes an impeachable offense by rogue judges." Wayne Hill said.
The civil law, HB4327, was modeled on a Texas law recently upheld by higher Courts.
"The Oklahoma Supreme Court Justices have again cited our State Constitution in determining a woman's right to an abortion at the cost taking another life. I will lead the charge to create a Constitutional Amendment to guarantee that the right of life for an unborn child is equal to the life of any born human. Oklahomans, our State Legislatures and Governor Stitt have overwhelmingly stated their support for the life of the unborn. I join the Oklahoma Republican Party leadership in working to Constitutionally guarantee the right to life." Pam Pollard, Oklahoma National Committeewoman.
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