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Roles of Women in Oklahoma Supreme Court The American southern states are usually regarded as not being very progressive, when it comes to representing minorities in its governmental institutions. There are many historical and cultural reasons for this, nevertheless, in recent years there are a few distinct socio-political trends can be defined that affected all three branches of Federal Government in the state of Oklahoma. The Supreme Court of Oklahoma has always been associated with stronghold of conservatism in this state. It consists of eleven judges but only in 1999 it included one African-American on its board. Officially, the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court of Oklahoma had nothing to do with racial or gender discrimination. The only required quality for the potential candidates is their high professionalism.
Nevertheless, since American society is becoming increasingly multicultural, many people raise concern that such social tendency should also be adequately represented in judicial branch of Federal government in every state. In that case, the professionalism and experience will cease to remain the most important obligation for judges. It is still remains a highly debated issue, although the proponents of minorities representation in Supreme Court of Oklahoma seems to be gaining an upper hand. For example, in 1983 there was a controversy, surrounding the appointment of Thomas Domski as Oklahoma Supreme Court judge. This person was born in Poland and had only acquired his American citizenship in 1949. Moreover, there were also allegations of him being sympathetic to Oklahoma's chapter of KKK.
Despite this, he was being appointed as judge, even though there was another candidate for this job, Sharon Williams - a native born African-American, who was strongly affiliated with Democrats. But because of ongoing public controversy, Domski had to resign in 1984 and the new Judge was appointed to take his chair, Yvonne Kauger. She served as Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court from January 1997 to December of 1998. During this time, The Supreme Court reviewed about 80 cases and there were only 15 complaints received from the interested parties in the end.
This is an unusually small number, which proves the effectiveness of court procedures. Yvonne Kauger was also known for supporting pro-choice activists in her speeches, before she was being appointed to the Supreme Court of Oklahoma. She used to point out to the fact that Bible thumper's can do whatever they want in their homes, but they dont have the right to impose their sick morality onto the public. Immediately, after her appointment, a few public protests had taken place outside of Court, with people demanding to remove extremists from the office and to bring sanity back to the Court. Yet, these protests were only expressing the opinion of marginalized portion of Oklahoma's population and the majority of people simply did not care.
There were a few Oklahoma's discriminatory laws reviewed, while Kauger served as Chief of Justice. One of them was banning the prohibition to buy beer for the males younger than 21 years old. Another was announcing as unconstitutional the decision of few municipalities in Oklahoma City to allow urban communities the right to decide whether they accept new members or not. This resulted in situation when predominantly White communities in Western part of the city, were reluctant to welcome colored people in the neighborhood, as they complained that this would automatically cause the rise of a crime rate. This, of course, could not be tolerated in the age of political-correctness. (1) Another prominent member of Supreme Court of Oklahoma is Alma Wilson. On February 17, 1982, Alma Wilson was sworn in as a Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
Justice Wilson was retained by the voters in 1984, 1986 and 1992. She has served as the Presiding Judge of the Appellate Division of the Court on the Judiciary. She served as Chief Justice for a two year term in 1995 - 96. This is a truly remarkable person. She had lost both of her parents in very young age and it was only her own persistence that allowed her to gain public prominence. Wilson became famous in 1985 for her stance against acquitting the Tarpun Corporation on charges of environmental pollution.
Back than, there were only three judges who voted against it. Wilsons active public position on this issue resulted in another two judges reviewing their earlier decisions. In year 1986 Tarpun was obligated to pay $ 800. 000 in fines. From that time on, Wilson is being referred to as environmental hawk, in the sense that she always assumes an uncompromising position, when it comes to dealing with cases of environmental pollution. The fact that voters were retaining her for the three times shows that she enjoys an immense popularity among large portion of Oklahoma's population. The Times and Law magazine has announced her as the most popular Judge in U.
S. for the year of 1986. Wilson is known to apply the concept of public interest, while making judicial decisions, when its appropriate. Shes convinced that cases that are being brought before the highest constitutional tribunal in Oklahoma cannot have any chance to be decided positively upon, if they are based on legal formalities inconsistency. She thinks that it is not just Supreme Courts right to consider public interest, while coming up with decisions, but also its duty.
In recent times Wilson is being criticized by the conservative politicians over her excessive emotionalism. By saying this, they imply that it is partly caused by the fact that she is woman. This, of course, is nothing but a hidden sexism, on their part. It also points out to the fact that the rednecks still enjoy considerable public support in Oklahoma, as such claims would not be tolerated by people in progressive states like California or Connecticut.
It is quite odd that, even though the problem of racial intolerance has been largely eliminated in Oklahoma, women are still largely mistrusted to hold government offices. It can only be explained by the progressive influence of Christian Church in this state. It is very hard to expect an open mindedness from people who live in the middle of Bible belt. The irony here lies in the fact that Alma Wilson is hardcore Christian herself (2) In June of 2003 there was a public campaign in many Oklahoma's colleges, called Bring More Color Into the Campus. This campaign was organized by American Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish organization that strives to promote the notion of multiculturalism in America. Among the campaigners goals was banning the discriminatory practice against women in Oklahoma.
The supporters of it have suggested that the special mechanism needs to be deployed, to insure racial and gender equality. In order to do this, there has to be a quota for every minority in all of three branches of government. (3) For example, in Supreme Court of Oklahoma there would have to be 4 African-Americans, 2 Asian-American, and at least one Mexican-American. Also, the gender ratio must be around 50 / 50. This would guarantee that the members of Supreme Court would not act in racially or gender biased manner, while making decisions. Or, their badness will be counter balanced by the badness of others. At present time there are two more women striving for the appointment in Supreme Court of Oklahoma, Erin Dale and Monika Lambert. (4) They both have an extensive experience in the field of jurisprudence.
Erin Dale worked in the Court of Criminal Appeals earlier and gained herself a reputation of very sensible judge. Shes backed by ADL, which now has gained a status of para-legal advisory body to the President of U. S. So, it appears very likely that shell be appointed, in he matter of very short time.
Monika Lambert had a private counseling practice before, in Oklahoma City. Shes known to hold strong feminist views. Many people point out to this fact as something that will unable her to remain unbiased during the hearings. But other judges are also affiliated with conservatives and the Bible thumper's. Nevertheless, it is not held against them. Why the exception is being made to Monika then?
There seems to be no other explanation but the fact that her views are simply not tolerated. Which again, proves the point that Oklahoma still has a long way to go, before it turns into a civilized state. Although the tendency of bringing more representatives of minorities into Oklahoma's judicial system is still very stagnant, it slowly gains a momentum. According to statistics, there were only 2 % of women in this system in 1989. By the year 2004 their number accounts for 7 %. The system of quotas is being widely used in American colleges and universities and it appears that the same system is going to be used to fill vacancies in American judicial system, as soon as Congress passes an appropriate legislation.
Still, passing such bill is not going to be easy, because of strong Republican influence in this branch of government. It is going to be harder for the representatives of minorities to gain public prominence, since the beginning of war on terrorism. On March 20, 2002 Attorney General John Ashcroft has announced the FBI was going to question 30. 000 men of Middle Eastern origin, who live in America legally and are not suspected in any wrongdoing. This is a racial profiling, in its worst. There are also rumors about the unofficial policy of discrimination towards minorities, which is being deployed by governmental institutions after attacks of 9 / 11. (5) These changes apply mostly to immigrants, but this is only the matter of time before native-born Americans will become the subjects of this as well. As a matter of fact, its begun to happen now.
Women judges are generally regarded as soft on terrorism, since they predominantly support the multiculturalism. However, the media-backed hysteria over the dangers of international terrorism is going to pass soon. Than, the turn of events will get back on its normal track. There are going to more and more minorities included in the Supreme Court of Oklahoma, which will result in this institution becoming truly unbiased. Bibliography: Lopez, Andrea Our 100 Notable Women of Style (2005). Oklahoma Today Web Site.
March 16, 2005. web Miranda, Toner. After the Dust Settles: The Criminal Justice System in the Aftermath of a Terrorist Attack or Large Scale Disaster. (2003). National District Attorney Association. March 10, 2005.
web Tom Colbert is Oklahoma's first Black Supreme Court Justice. (Nov. 29, 2004). FindArticles. com March 16, 2005. web States.
The Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma. Justice Alma Wilson, District No. 5. 2003. March 16, 2005. web United States. The Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma. Justice Yvonne Kauger, District No. 4. 2003.
March 16, 2005. web Footnotes: The information about Yvonne Kauger can be found on the site of Supreme Court of Oklahoma under the title District No. 4. - The information about Alma Wilson can be found on the site of Supreme Court of Oklahoma under the title District No. 5. The article Tom Colbert is Oklahoma's first Black Supreme Court Justice contains information about Bring More Color Into the Campus campaign in Oklahoma City in summer of 2004. See Anger Lopez's article Our 100 Notable Women of Style on Oklahoma Today Web Site. See Miranda Toners article After the Dust Settles: The Criminal Justice System in the Aftermath of a Terrorist Attack or Large Scale Disaster on National District Attorney Association Web Site.
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Research essay sample on Roles Of Women In Oklahoma Supreme Court
