Travis Jett named to Oklahoma Supreme Court by Gov. Kevin Stitt

Yahoo

14-04-2025

Gov. Kevin Stitt named Travis Jett, a conservative lawyer with no judicial experience, to fill the open seat on the Oklahoma Supreme Court Monday.
The seat became vacant after Stitt and the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, a right-wing think tank in Oklahoma City, pushed to oust three justices from the state's highest civil court. Jett previously served as a lawyer for OCPA.
Jett will assume the post immediately. No Senate confirmation is required.
Stitt made the announcement at an afternoon news conference at the state Capitol. He said his first priority was to appoint a justice who would stay true to the Oklahoma and United States constitutions. Stitt said he chose Jett because he believed Jett was a man of integrity and was well respected in the legal and agricultural communities.
"He has spent his life and career serving Oklahoma through the FFA and his legal practice," Stitt said.
Stitt said Jett would apply the law as written and would "be a good steward of this honor."
"As he takes a seat on the bench, I look forward to his service and his prudent interpretation of the Constitution and the new energy he brings to the court," the governor said.
He did not take questions after announcing he was appointing Jett to the post.
Jett said he was proud to accept the appointment and would apply the law in a "fair, predictable and just manner."
"I know that the lessons that I learned 190 miles northwest of here, things like honesty, integrity, humility, fairness, that will guide my tenure on the state Supreme Court," he said.
Jett was one of three finalists sent to Stitt by the state's Judicial Nominating Commission. The other finalists were Donna Lynn Dirickson and Jon Keith Parsley, both district judges.
Jett is a private practice attorney with the Hodgden Law Firm in Woodward. He has represented the Oklahoma Tax Commission, Corporation Commission, Ethics Commission, Oklahoma State Department of Health and Oklahoma State Department of Education in litigation. He is a graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center.
Jett replaces Justice Yvonne Kauger who lost her retention election last year. Kauger, 87, was the longest serving member of the court. She was named to the court by Democratic Gov. George Nigh in 1984. Kauger was the second woman in state history to be named to the court.
Before voters ousted Kauger, a Stitt-backed political action committee and the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs branded Kauger and fellow justices Noma Gurich and James Edmondson as 'liberal activists.' Kauger was also criticized because of her age. Gurich and Edmondson won their retention elections.
Kauger's replacement shifts the court's makeup. Now six justices of the court have been named by Republican governors and three chosen by Democratic governors. Jett's appointment is Stitt's fourth to the court.
Officials at the Judicial Nominating Commission said there were 14 applicants to fill the vacancy. Stitt was required to select a nominee within 60 days of receiving the list of finalists. He said Monday that Jett was selected after a "thorough vetting process."
The choice of Jett comes as some members of the Oklahoma Legislature continue efforts to change how justices are appointed to the state's highest court.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Gov. Kevin Stitt appoints Travis Jett to Oklahoma Supreme Court