A longtime liberal justice on the Supreme Court of Oklahoma has officially been replaced.
Governor Kevin Stitt (R) handpicked Travis Jett to fill the vacancy left by Justice Yvonne Kauger, who lost a retention election in November.
This is Stitt's fourth Supreme Court appointment, the most of any Republican governor in the state's history.
In Oklahoma, Supreme Court justices are nominated by a judicial commission and appointed by the governor. Justices must then face voters at the end of each of their terms.
Kauger, who was appointed in 1984 by Democrat George Nigh, was voted out last year, becoming the first Supreme Court justice to ever lose retention in the state.
Jett has ties to Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, a conservative advocacy group that has called for overhauling the judicial nomination process.
The group has cited research showing that Oklahoma's Supreme Court is much more liberal than the state's voters, who tend to lean conservative.
The Judicial Nominating Commission sent three candidates for Stitt to choose from, including two judges, Donna Dirickson and Jon Parsley. Jett, a private practice lawyer, has never served as a judge before.
“I am humbled and honored by the governor’s trust,” said Jett. “It will be the privilege of a lifetime to serve on our state’s Supreme Court. I will approach my service with thoughtfulness, impartiality, and an unwavering commitment to the rule of law.”
The governor's office pointed to Jett's experience as a litigator, with clients including a former governor, the State Board of Education, publicly traded corporations, privately held companies, family farms, and more.
“Travis Jett is a man of integrity, wisdom, and deep respect for the rule of law,” said Governor Stitt. “He brings an impressive legal mind, a servant’s heart, and a wealth of legal experience to our Supreme Court. I am confident he will uphold our Constitution and apply the law fairly and faithfully for Oklahomans."
State Supreme Courts have grabbed more attention in recent years as America's cultural divide has deepened, making Supreme Court elections in some states expensive and overtly partisan affairs.
Jett received praise from Retired Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Steven Taylor, who said he would be "fair and impartial."
"Travis Jett will be a great Justice. Oklahoma can comfortably place total confidence in him to be fair and impartial. He is a leader, experienced and academically gifted. He now makes the life-changing transition from advocating for his clients to serving as a Justice; where he will faithfully uphold the Rule of Law and zealously protect the independence of the Judiciary."
