Okla. & Canadian Cntys. Local R. 4

A. The Presiding Administrative Judge will designate a Chief Judge for the succeeding year

on a yearly basis for Canadian County and for Oklahoma County on a monthly rotating

schedule from among the district judges and for July and August on a weekly rotating

schedule from among the district judges. In the event a judge is unable to serve as Chief

Judge according to the rotating schedule, the Presiding Adm inistrative Judge shall

designate a replacement.

B. Notices showing the name of the Chief Judge shall be posted in conspicuous places in the

Court Clerk's office, and such other places as directed by the Presiding Administrative

Judge.

C. Should the Chief Judge find it necessary to be temporarily absent from the courthouse

during normal business hours, or be temporarily unable to serve as Chief Judge, he or she

shall arrange for another judge to handle the assignment during that time. The P residing

Administrative Judge shall designate a replacement should the Chief Judge fail to do so.

D. The Chief Judge shall handle the following matters:

1. Transfers of cases for all dockets except those assigned to the Juvenile Division,

Family and Domestic Division, Probate Division, and Special Trial Division.

2. Motions for Recusal of Assigned Judge.

3. Applications for excuse from jury duty.

4. Election disputes requiring immediate action.

5. May call for conference of judges on own initiative or upon the request for a

meeting made by any other District Judge.

6. Any other matter directed to the Chief Judge by statute or rule.

E. The Chief Judge shall be in charge of the jury panel and with the assistance of the Trial

Court Administrator and the Jury Clerk, shall discharge and excuse those jurors not

engaged when their services are no longer required.

Approved August 21, 2025 3

F. The Chief Judge shall hear and decide all individual juror requests to be excused from jury

duty prior to the juror being sent to a courtroom as part of a trial panel. Once a juror is

assigned to a courtroom the judge presiding over the trial may permanently excuse the juror

without consulting with the Chief Judge. If a juror is so released the Jury Clerk shall be

notified.