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Gurich named to Oklahoma's high courtJan 08, 2011 (The Oklahoman - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Gov. Brad Henry, in one of his last official acts as the state's chief executive, selected an Oklahoma County district judge Friday night to fill a vacancy on the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Henry, whose eight years as governor ends Monday, appointed Noma Gurich, who has served as an Oklahoma County district judge since 1998. It is Henry's record-setting sixth appointment to the nine-member high court. Former Gov. George Nigh, who also served two terms, appointed three. Gurich, 58, succeeds Marian Opala, who died Oct. 11. Henry made the appointment hours after the Supreme Court kept alive a lawsuit challenging the validity of the Oklahoma Judicial Nominating Commission, which submitted three nominees last week to Henry. The governor must choose from those three; if he had failed to do so before his term expires, the appointment would have been up to Mary Fallin, a Republican, who takes office at noon Monday. Other nominees for the Supreme Court district that covers Oklahoma County were Democratic Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, who lost last year's gubernatorial election, and Judge John Fischer, of Oklahoma City, whom Henry earlier appointed to the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals. Gurich is only the third woman in state history to be appointed to the Supreme Court. Nigh appointed the first two women to serve on the state Supreme Court -- Alma Wilson and Yvonne Kauger, who continues to serve. "This was an extremely difficult decision because all of the candidates are well-respected and highly qualified," Henry said. "I could not go wrong selecting any one of the nominees, but I could only choose one, and in the final analysis, I felt Noma Gurich had the best qualifications and experience to serve on the state's highest court." Gurich said she is "very pleased" about the appointment. "I promised the governor that I would do my best to serve the people of Oklahoma in every way possible," she said. "I consider this a very high honor and a very high calling." Gurich said she didn't know when she would be sworn in. Her district court trial docket starts Monday and she said she would try to make the transition as quickly as she could. Gurich has been a district judge in Oklahoma County since 1998 and acted as presiding judge from 2003 to 2004. She also has overseen the work of the state multicounty grand jury. Additionally, Gurich served on the Oklahoma Workers Compensation Court for 10 years and worked in private practice. "During her distinguished legal career, Judge Gurich has compiled an exemplary record of service on the bench and has consistently demonstrated the judicial temperament and intellect necessary to be an outstanding Supreme Court justice," Henry said. "I know she will perform her new duties with great professionalism and integrity, and I greatly appreciate her willingness to serve." Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court voted 5-2 to hear a lawsuit filed by Jerry Fent, an Oklahoma City attorney. It alleges the Judicial Nominating Commission is unconstitutional because its membership is based on six congressional districts, rather than the five the state has. Oral arguments are set for Feb. 1. Legislation concerns State Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, was allowed to intervene in the lawsuit. He claims the Judicial Nominating Commission shouldn't take any action until its membership complies fully with provisions of a state ballot measure voters approved in November. State Question 752, which was approved by 63 percent of those voting, requires the appointment of two more nonlawyers to the commission -- increasing its size from 13 members to 15. The ballot measure became effective when election results were certified a week later. The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tem of the Senate are each to make one of the new appointments. Both legislative leaders in office at the time of the Nov. 2 election were term-limited and their terms ended a week after election results were approved. A new speaker and president pro tempore were not elected officially by their respective chambers until earlier this week. Speaker Kris Steele and Sen. Brian Bingman made their appointments Friday. Steele, R-Shawnee, named David K. Hill, of Edmond, chief executive officer of Kimray, an Oklahoma City company. Bingman, R-Sapulpa, appointed Dr. Don Murray, of Edmond. Jolley asked Henry and Fallin to not select a Supreme Court justice until the high court at least heard oral arguments next month. To see more of The Oklahoman, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.newsok.com. Copyright (c) 2011, The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. |