OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The state has a brand new high lawyer. Governor Kevin Stitt naming John O’Connor as his decide for lawyer normal on Friday morning. By the afternoon, O’Connor was formally sworn in on the state capitol.
“Immediately we begin a brand new chapter,” Stitt mentioned. “I’m very excited to announce that I’m appointing the subsequent lawyer normal as John O’Connor.”
After two months of ready, Stitt introduced his alternative for Mike Hunter as Oklahoma’s Legal professional Normal.
Stitt saying O’Connor is the fitting man for the job.
“I do know John’s coronary heart and I do know he’s the fitting chief on the proper time. He’s a powerful man of religion. He’s a real conservative. An incredible lawyer and a tireless employee,” Stitt mentioned.
“My duties will embrace prosecuting the rights of Oklahomans and the state,” O’Connor mentioned.
However the decide comes with some controversy.
“President Trump trusted John and appointed him and nominated him to be a federal choose in 2018,” Stitt mentioned.
After former President Trump’s appointment, the American Bar Affiliation unanimously voted O’Connor as not certified for the place.
The affiliation offering Information 4 with a letter after the impartial Standing Committee and Federal Judiciary performed a peer overview O’Connor, saying in part–
“The confidential peer overview revealed a number of cases of moral considerations, together with candor with the courtroom, proof of overbilling of shoppers and billing practices criticized by courts…, and improper contact with antagonistic events in litigation.”
Earlier than Information 4 might ask the governor or O’Connor any questions on that, they walked out of the swearing in ceremony.
Later, Stitt’s workplace despatched Information 4 this assertion on the American Bar Affiliation’s vote, saying–
“I’ve zero considerations in regards to the opinion of an out-of-state, liberal particular curiosity group, and I’ve the utmost confidence that John O’Connor’s excessive ethical character, 40 years of authorized expertise and willingness to battle for all 4 million Oklahomans make him the fitting alternative.” – Gov. Kevin Stitt.
One other problem O’Connor should face– the supreme courtroom’s landmark McGirt ruling.
“If the query is will we oppose McGirt? The reply is sure. If the query is will we search the overturning by the Supreme Court docket of McGirt? The reply is sure,” O’Connor mentioned earlier within the day in Tulsa.
O’Connor mentioned he is able to battle it.
“My guess is that is all about tribal sovereignty points,” mentioned Rep. Monroe Nichols, (D) Tulsa. “I believe it’s a tragic assertion of affairs that in two months, the governor of our state can solely discover, of all of the individuals within the state, can solely discover any person who has considerably of a spotty observe file, apart from being a giant donor to Republican political candidates.”
O’Connor will fill the unexpired time period ending January 9, 2023.
