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Back to HB 4226
Oklahoma Legislature· HB 4226Becomes law without Governor's signature 05/07/2026

An act relating to courts, the official text

Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Oklahoma Legislature, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
1                    STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2   2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)

3 HOUSE BILL 4226                    By: Kannady

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6                               AS INTRODUCED

7   An Act relating to courts; amending 20 O.S. 2021,

    Section 1403, which relates to disqualification of

8   judges; permitting a party in good-faith request to

    judge that they disqualify themselves; allowing party

9   to file motion; directing the judge to rule on the

    motion within fifteen days; allowing review of denial

10  of disqualification motion by the chief judge of the

    county; directing presiding judge of administrative

11  district to review motion for disqualification of

    chief judge; providing procedure for rehearing;

12  allowing application for mandamus; and providing an

    effective date.

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16 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

17  SECTION 1.      AMENDATORY       20 O.S. 2021, Section 1403, is

18 amended to read as follows:

19  Section 1403. Any party to any cause pending in a court of

20 record may in term time or in vacation file a written application

21 with the clerk of the court, setting forth the grounds or facts upon

22 which the claim is made that the

23  A. Upon a good-faith belief that a judge is disqualified, and

24 request said judge so to certify, after reasonable notice to the

    Req. No. 14392                                              Page 1
1 other side, same to be presented to such judge, and upon his failure

2 so to do within three (3) days before said cause is set for trial,

3 application may be made to the proper tribunal for mandamus

4 requiring him so to do. any party to any cause pending in a court of

5 record may seek the judge's disqualification by first making a

6 request to the judge in camera to disqualify himself or herself. If

7 the request is denied, the requesting party may file a written

8 motion for disqualification within ten (10) days from the denial

9 setting forth the grounds upon which the request for

10 disqualification is made. Provided, no disqualification motion

11 shall be filed less than ten (10) days before the case is set for

12 trial. The judge shall rule upon the disqualification motion within

13 fifteen (15) days from the date it is filed.

14  B. The denial of a disqualification motion shall be reviewable

15 by the chief judge of the county in which the cause is pending or,

16 if the disqualification of the chief judge is sought, to the

17 presiding judge of the administrative district, upon the filing of

18 an application for rehearing within five (5) days from the adverse

19 ruling. Rehearing on the disqualification motion shall be held and

20 ruled upon within thirty (30) days from the filing of the

21 application for rehearing.

22  C. Within five (5) days from an adverse ruling on rehearing,

23 application may be made to the proper tribunal for mandamus

24 requiring the judge to disqualify.

    Req. No. 14392                                                 Page 2
1   SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2026.

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3   60-2-14392      MJ  12/23/25

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    Req. No. 14392                Page 3
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