Posted 2:36 PM by Creditwrench

J.A.I.L. Legislation hearing at Okla State Capitol

Richard Cornforth has announced at our headquarters chapter meeting that there will be a hearing before the Judiciary Committee on October 9th in the afternoon which will be for the purpose of discussing what we believe is wrong with the judiciary.

This hearing represents a landmark eventuality for the J-accuse movement in Oklahoma and nationwide. We do hope that as many as possible be in attendance.

A bad idea

I've been involved in a lot of political actions both pro and con over the years and as a result have attended more than a few committee meetings such as the one we will be attending here.

I've attended them in the capacity of a speaker before several committees as well as that of a supporter and as a member of the press so I think that I have the background and the experience to say that there should be no signs or banners or handouts at the meeting itself and they should not be in evidence anywhere near the meeting.

The meeting will be in room 412-C which is not a terribly large room. There should be 12 committe members present and there may very well be members of the press present as well. There will probably be some interested judges and/or attorneys present as well. Such meeting rooms normally have a capacity of about 30 to 50 people.

Opio Tourie is the Chairman of the committee
He is a black legislator who has long been an advocate for black orientated legislation and political activities, many of which were quite controversial.

Frank Davis is the Vice Chair and is an attorney and a former county attorney of Logan County, Oklahoma and a former Judge of the Guthrie, Oklahoma Munincipal Court. He is a member of the Lions Club, the Masons and the Gideons.

Jari Askins, a committee member has been a special Dist. Judge, Stephens County, from 1982 to 1990, was Chairman, Okla. Pardon and Parole Board, 1991 to 1992, was Deputy General Counsel, Governor's Office, 1992 to 1994, and was Ex. Director of Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board, Feb.-Nov. 1994.

Thad Balkman, committe memberis an attorney although he has never been a member of the judiciary but rather always in private practice.

Rep. David Braddock, committee member is also an attorney but is seemingly lacking in some of the prestigious credentials other members of the committee have.

Bill Graves is also an attorney and is well known for being one of the more "outrageous" members of the House. He has sponsored and co-sponsored a lot of very radical legislation over the years, many of which fell flat on their faces.

Rep. Chris Hastings, another attorney is also a member of all the bar associations.

Rep. Jerry Hefner apparently is not an attorney but has served on the Wagoner and Coweta Chambers of Commerce, is a member of the Masonic Lodge #98, the Rotary Club, and maybe most notably the National Rifle Association.

Rep. Ray McCarteris a former teacher and legislator.

Rep. Bill Paulk is a former plumber and former commissioner of labor appointed to the post by former Gov. George Nigh.

Rep. Larry Riceis a former Police Officer, from Pryor, a Pryor City Councilman, 1982-84, Teacher and Administrator, Rogers State College, 1979-1991, Director of Public Affairs, University of Tulsa, 1991 to present, and past president, Mayes County Young Democrats.

Rep. Ray Vaughn is a leader in anti-smoking legislation in the House and always has some tough new anti-smoking legislation he tries to bring up every year and is the main author of the new regulations that have just gone into effect. He is a former Assistant City Attorney, Edmond, Ok., was an associate Municipal Judge in Edmond and formerly edited and produced the Ask-A-Lawyer radio program for the OBA.

Rep. Tad Jones is not a member of the Judiciary committee and is not an attorney but according to my House of Representatives contacts he is the House member who has called for this hearing.
It is indeed important to know the makeup of the committee that we will be presenting our material to.

That is a tough panel of lawyers and judges that we have to face and most likely will not look all that favorably on our
agenda of telling them what they are to their faces nor very friendly towards those of us who would like to take away their perks and priviledges nor those of their colleagues.

And so it is with that in mind that I must caution against the idea of bringing any banners, signs first of all because signs and banners are not allowed inside the capitol building. Handouts are not going to be of any value because they would only be useful if handed directly to committee members who would not pay any attention to them prior to the meeting anyway. Handouts to the committe members must be done in advance of the meeting and be taken to their offices if they are to do any good at all.

This is not an attempt to persuade the public in our favor but rather an attempt to influence the members of a highly influential group of legislators who are most likely already very opinionated about such changes as we advocate. Were it not for Opio Turie we would most likely never stand a chance to be heard before this committee. But he is the chair and he and he alone has the final say as to what the committee's legislative agenda for the coming year will or will not be. He and possibly Bill Graves are the only two committee members that we can really count on in the way of sympathetic ears.

It would do us no good at all to be seen as a bunch of banner and sign carrying rabble rousers trying to influence public opinion against the status quo. So in my not so humble opinion we will do ourselves a great deal of harm if we bring any signs, banners or handouts to the hearing.

One of the problems spectators to these hearings always have is sitting there wondering who this or that person might be and what might he possibly be doing there. Whose side are they on anyway? What is their position likely to be? In order that we might be more prepared to answer those questions I am in the process of putting together a webpage that will have the photos of all of the members of the committee on it which can be printed out and taken to the meeting with you so that you will be able to tell the members from the spectators.

Having such printouts with the members of the committee will be far more impressive than any signs, banners or handouts. Knowing the members and what they look like will enable J-accuse members to address them by name if the opportunity should present itself and will provide us with a better way to be respectful spectators and attendees.

Click here for photos of the Oklahoma Representatives who are on the committee. The names of the Republicans are in red and the Democrats are in blue. Hopefully that will also give us just a bit better insight into the makeup of the committee.