[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6600420,"mediaKeyId","3064998-ebeec67c9dcb699d33fe8be52dab7b4c","parentId",3064998,"title","Governor favors federal‑style judicial appointments over current JNC process, cites limits on recruiting","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1989000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3064998-ebeec67c9dcb699d33fe8be52dab7b4c&start=1989&end=1989","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3064998-ebeec67c9dcb699d33fe8be52dab7b4c/thumbnail_1989000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6600420/Oklahoma/Governor-favors-federalstyle-judicial-appointments-over-current-JNC-process-cites-limits-on-recruiting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6600420-2941ca169fcbfac86ce7321b323b4dcb/orig.mp4?Expires=1773317129&Signature=GZg9o0vIT5J4plSay5jUox-A~4jTCR6QSPRWw9hiipJKqIC8xRIC77umiw9FSzckt2LCp1IZ0L6-izDALWXouvXWKmXD6INHxroSxYiMOOnfC4EwL7UZKjpHIYHUrGSfoJT6PG3mCYW1r4RdvUtF5MkiOTuFEKxvPOsrt0asQ24mvw5oDGZYmQP0IZceGZ8zsXWYkTrySoSbaYJ67iyIREouBmCz0ZrCbexOXHdX~S87OSYBOr-o8BptFh0YmTq4hTT~M1kbS~eNpglrtJ~pc1ikTHfChDbuanEnkPURafTdP54J4PZt8XoacfGGjCSV2hDtFlbXSMEmplWkUIQV6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Governor Kevin Stitt","date","2025-04-16T00:00:00Z","article","The governor said he prefers a judicial selection process that allows the governor to recruit and appoint judges rather than relying solely on the judicial nominating commission (JNC) process as currently structured.

Asked about legislation that would change how judicial nominations are handled, the governor said he has appointed four justices to the state Supreme Court and that the current JNC process — which he described as interviewing many candidates in short time slots — can limit the ability to recruit and evaluate top candidates. \"Would I rather have the governor just choose? Yes,\" he said, comparing the approach to the federal model of presidential nomination with legislative confirmation.

He said the current system sometimes imposes geographic or other constraints on applicants and that interview days can entail very short, 20‑minute interviews for multiple applicants, which he suggested may not surface the best candidates for high courts. He noted that some members of the bar association can remain on nominating lists for multiple years while his gubernatorial picks are limited to shorter maximum terms under current law.

The governor said he has not been disappointed with the four Supreme Court appointees he named but argued the system could be improved to attract a broader pool of applicants. He did not identify specific legislation he would support or veto and said he would evaluate bills when they reach his desk.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Join in for my weekly press briefing!","oneSentenceSummary","When asked about a bill affecting the judicial nominating commission, the governor said he would prefer a model closer to the federal appointment process so governors can recruit nominees directly and argued the current process limits the candidate pool and interview depth.","taxTitle","Governor's Office, Executive, Oklahoma","taxId",72757,"location","Oklahoma","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6600425,"Governor says wildfire working group meeting scheduled; interim forestry role under consideration",97,1261000,1358000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3064998-ebeec67c9dcb699d33fe8be52dab7b4c&start=1261&end=1358","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3064998-ebeec67c9dcb699d33fe8be52dab7b4c/thumbnail_1261000.jpg","/articles/6600425/Oklahoma/Governor-says-wildfire-working-group-meeting-scheduled-interim-forestry-role-under-consideration","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6600425-d7026d9992ff70c0e2777664f028bbfa/orig.mp4?Expires=1773317129&Signature=LvFjTRM1oYUn4Et6vQM6T~tMb7sRMvJJMueE7kFTfCnLqNooJLTMVrDUca4AXDsZpu6SMhxx3CkRXlFFjrgLy9S16s4X1SRsi2l7qWfNa51i4KtbZwt2xQ3ii~MTcxnci30NBuyLR43RICzyVAs6ZrvJrglM8I~liZo~~vyCNgxtcrkE5uftxjZO8D9mF9HdF~Mg1JochlzgsAeohrTzPKm9xjUs9Gxww3F72H5HwyoK7B6bjHrAOvxXGfhHva1eA4Gd4ply9knEipoYfYfrwQgnTaB~muqkB4PpYizA6tL8cDf9yEgNhI2NhDzfdT1AL5mdlvZOmA0Ym-jPqoJ8HA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The governor said the wildfire working group was scheduled to meet and that the administration is considering retired firefighters for interim roles in Forestry.

He told reporters he had spoken with Secretary Blaine Arthur and expected a meeting with public‑safety officials, including Tricia Everest, and that several retired firefighters have volunteered to be interviewed for an interim position overseeing Forestry. The interim role is intended to give perspective to the agency while a full‑time replacement is hired, the governor said.

The governor said the working group would meet again later in the week and that he would report back on decisions. No formal hires or personnel decisions were announced at the press conference.","The governor said a wildfire working group is meeting and that retired firefighters are being considered for an interim role to support Forestry while a full‑time replacement is recruited.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6600430,"Governor says he supports bill limiting governor's authority to close businesses during a pandemic",135,1335000,1470000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3064998-ebeec67c9dcb699d33fe8be52dab7b4c&start=1335&end=1470","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3064998-ebeec67c9dcb699d33fe8be52dab7b4c/thumbnail_1335000.jpg","/articles/6600430/Oklahoma/Governor-says-he-supports-bill-limiting-governors-authority-to-close-businesses-during-a-pandemic","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6600430-ad2ff5750c2280819b6a6c44ac485b43/orig.mp4?Expires=1773317129&Signature=TKHxsrhPAJpix1ZermM72wa0EY-asQyhKVJ3X0oUkx2gfqNY3SFtkc73REMeo8CvPnAjCE2LIxdI0NbgGfTcMscOn0nBhL8IzKFWKJOSrbiAhZ512p-4meWjqCxwXrIVnnJCYpg6Q--56jL77rXUgvqEUdVdVhYfyObHea1W9wR6T7csNB~cakM8NgRvRzyfO~btydqAtvdkNENnnPLXEvHvi7GnZRuPk4UnE3HaZZXqEhOwbkHEB-QU41LsmLVKda3jq0B0KnVZRsx4XQF8Aks-qorKyQ~cydOphfHLrkK6dJfscPXzIElohYm226SUzHwfzt-vIhkDjCs6xja1iw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The governor said he supports a bill advancing in the legislature that would limit the governor's authority to order business closures during a pandemic unless there is clear evidence to justify such actions.

Asked about the measure, the governor said he understands the intent: to prevent a future governor from closing businesses for extended periods. He recalled the early days of COVID‑19 and described following national guidance to \"slow the spread\" before reopening, and said leaders must consult health professionals and the state Department of Health when making decisions.

On the bill's surface, the governor said it \"sounds reasonable\" and that he appreciates legislative attention to protecting citizens' rights and preventing prolonged shutdowns. He said he will evaluate the bill as it reaches his desk and noted he was among governors who did not impose a statewide mask mandate during the pandemic.

The governor framed the legislation as a check on executive power in future emergencies while emphasizing that public‑health experts will be part of decisionmaking. He did not provide a detailed position on the bill's language or specific amendments.","Asked about legislation that would restrict a governor's power to order business closures in a public‑health emergency, the governor expressed support while saying leaders should take professional guidance and that he favors limiting long unilateral shutdowns.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6600434,"Governor says state will maintain mental‑health services while probing contracts and agency practices",828,992000,1820000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3064998-ebeec67c9dcb699d33fe8be52dab7b4c&start=992&end=1820","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3064998-ebeec67c9dcb699d33fe8be52dab7b4c/thumbnail_992000.jpg","/articles/6600434/Oklahoma/Governor-says-state-will-maintain-mentalhealth-services-while-probing-contracts-and-agency-practices","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6600434-dc92ce357727d06e4a8cb67f9f3e7364/orig.mp4?Expires=1773317129&Signature=O9q4J4WF8B-Ebt3r94lYSMkyg-sdPpPekmHbkvgPJ2U81hH~5aIOoxNtgvKvnOgLk432zlRwMG4oLfjn6kFKBYtv7bPZgtO-ZQL4UcZIhh3koPSNFMjEzXlLn2IbZDr87opl0CVUQeY5MZYaO82BRvl2RUhf0wtQcqo~AwQVx6gERYqah5AlRL0ejEfuSkB6GsrMQjSsetkH9Z3GUe0WAQCmUM0v6fA~lu4FffjfKsPmdDrvqHnihwSZyULV4PmPLOSP~mgvKVa3Nwvt7BfpXHA40Ex28K9IFqosdZYwGOP~z~UJCgsizIaIIMbheZmoMj~i0UpU0k2xmyctV0lZ5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Governor, speaking at a press conference, said the state is not cutting mental‑health services while his administration reviews contracts and agency practices and seeks efficiencies.

\"We're not cutting any kind of services,\" the governor said, adding that the administration is reissuing some requests for proposals it believes \"wasn't done accurately.\" He said the state has increased spending on mental health and that total annual spending is in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

The governor described a review of Department of Mental Health operations after leadership changes and departures revealed what he called questionable contracting and billing practices. He said some providers are billing the state at different rates — he cited figures discussed at the event of about $6,700 per patient per month at the high end and $2,700 at the low end — and that the administration is asking why costs vary.

He said the administration's goal is to keep care flowing while ensuring taxpayer money is spent efficiently. \"We're going to keep investing more money in mental health and I think it's close to $800,000,000 that we're spending,\" he said, later adding his belief that state appropriations total about $387,000,000 a year and that the remainder is federal funding.

The governor described personnel changes at the Department of Mental Health, saying the current director has replaced several lieutenants and a chief financial officer and that those personnel moves helped surface concerns. He said the administration will work with the legislature and invited legislative investigations. \"Shine a light,\" he said, describing oversight as part of the response.

Reporters asked whether the review amounted to \"another investigation\" of the agency; the governor framed the work as audits, contract reviews and potential reprocurement where the RFP process was flawed. He said he would take action if vendors or employees were found to be \"cheating Oklahomans,\" including firing managers or canceling contracts and redeploying funds.

The governor also criticized what he described as close relationships between some vendors and agency leaders, saying such ties can blunt oversight. He noted one nonprofit CEO had reduced a publicly reported salary figure after the administration called attention to it.

The administration indicated it will continue service delivery during the review and will coordinate with the legislature, which has scheduled a select committee to examine aspects of health department operations.

Details on specific contracts, vendors or formal findings were not provided at the press conference.","The governor told reporters the state is not cutting mental‑health services as his administration audits contracts and agency practices, saying he will reissue RFPs where procurement was flawed and hold vendors and bureaucrats accountable.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Governor favors federal‑style judicial appointments over current JNC process, cites limits on recruiting

Governor says wildfire working group meeting scheduled; interim forestry role under consideration

Governor says he supports bill limiting governor's authority to close businesses during a pandemic

Governor says state will maintain mental‑health services while probing contracts and agency practices