Oklahoma State Legislature Takes First Steps to Establish Business Courts: A Step Towards a More Efficient Legal System

The state legislature is taking the first steps to establish business courts in Oklahoma. This move is expected to alleviate the backlog in county courts and make the state the 26th to have such courts. However, there is still a long way to go, as a task force will be created to define the structure and operations of these courts.

Governor Stitt has been a major advocate for this establishment, listing it as one of his top priorities during budget negotiations. He believes that having a specialized area to handle business disputes and commercial litigations between businesses will not only clear the backlog in county courts but also provide a more efficient and effective system for resolving business-related legal issues.

If approved, the proposed legislation includes creating an 11-person task force responsible for developing a plan for implementing the business court system. The bill calls for establishing these courts in Tulsa and Oklahoma County by 2026. Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat has expressed his support for this bill, emphasizing the importance of having a designated court for contractual disputes.

The Senate has overwhelmingly passed this bill, which will now move on to the state house for further consideration. If successful, Oklahoma could see significant improvements in its legal system’s efficiency and effectiveness when resolving business-related legal matters.