The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that two state laws banning abortion are unconstitutional, but the procedure remains illegal in most cases. The ruling found that the Oklahoma Constitution provides an "inherent right of a pregnant woman to terminate a pregnancy when necessary to preserve her life." The ruling is likely to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, and provides a measure of clarity on the legality of abortion in the state.
Posts tagged as “Oklahoma”
The Supreme Court has temporarily blocked the execution of Richard Glossip, who was convicted of murder-for-hire in 1997 based on the testimony of a single witness. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has since released evidence indicating the witness was not entirely truthful, leading to reasonable doubt of Glossip's guilt. Despite this, Glossip was still scheduled to be put to death on May 18, leading to public outcry from his supporters and celebrities. The Supreme Court's decision is a temporary reprieve, and it is possible that Oklahoma could still seek to execute Glossip in the future.
On Monday, six people, including five teenagers, were found dead in rural Oklahoma in what is believed to be a murder-suicide. The shooter, Jesse McFadden, was a 39-year-old convicted sex offender who was on trial for child pornography charges. The victims included his wife and her three children, as well as two of their friends. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are trying to understand why McFadden was free while awaiting trial on new sex charges.
Key takeaways: Six people, including a convicted sex offender, were found dead on a rural property east of Henryetta, Oklahoma. All victims sustained between one…
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has signed a bill into law making it a felony for healthcare workers to provide gender-affirming medical care to minors, including treatments such as puberty-blocking drugs and hormones. This is part of a larger trend of conservatives targeting transgender rights across the country, and advocates have argued that the law will have a detrimental effect on the health and well-being of transgender children. The law is set to take effect on November 1st, 2021, with unclear consequences for healthcare workers who violate it.
Seven people were found dead in an Oklahoma home on Monday, including two teenage girls who had been reported missing earlier in the day. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is currently investigating the incident, and the medical examiner's office will confirm the identity of the victims. Sheriff Eddy Rice described the tragedy as a "tragedy for the families, it's a tragedy for the community, it's a tragedy for the state of Oklahoma."
On Monday, a shooting at Rose State College in Midwest City, Oklahoma, left one person dead and a suspect in custody. The incident appears to be "domestic-related" and the college issued an active shooter warning and cancelled all activities and classes for the day. The Midwest City Police Department is continuing to investigate the shooting.
Barbara Barrick has filed a wrongful death civil rights lawsuit against the McCurtain County Board of County Commissioners, Sheriff Kevin Clardy, and several sheriff's deputies in response to the death of her husband following an arrest in 2022. Audio of Clardy reportedly talking about killing journalists and boasting about physically confronting the local district attorney has been released. The lawsuit seeks damages for the wrongful death and an injunction to prevent similar conduct in the future, highlighting the need for police reform and accountability.