Unlike most states, Oklahoma has two courts of last resort. The Supreme Court determines all issues of a civil nature, and the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals decides all criminal matters. Members of these courts, and of the Court of Civil Appeals, are appointed by the governor from a list of three names submitted by the Oklahoma Judicial Nominating Commission.

In making its decisions, the Oklahoma Supreme Court interprets both the State and Federal Constitutions. If the question presented is one purely of state law, the Oklahoma Supreme Court is the final arbiter. An opinion of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, based on the Oklahoma Constitution, affording greater rights than those preserved by the United States Constitution may not be overturned by the United States Supreme Court. The Oklahoma Supreme Court decides no criminal cases. Criminal cases fall within the exclusive appellate jurisdiction of the Court of Criminal Appeals. In recent years, the backlog of the Court of Criminal Appeals has been virtually extinguished, guaranteeing that both the State and individual litigants have a speedy resolution of appellate issues relating to crimes committed in Oklahoma. If a conflict arises over the jurisdiction of the two courts --- Supreme Court or Court of Criminal Appeals --- the Supreme Court determines which court has jurisdiction. Its determination is final and not subject to review.

Over the last ten years, the Oklahoma Supreme Court has reduced its backlog of cases from 3,331 in 1998 to 1,476 in January of this year. In 1997, the Supreme Court disposed of 2,142 cases -- 232 more cases than were filed. Every case filed has been assigned to a Supreme Court Justice or to a Judge of the Court of Civil Appeals. During 1999, it is expected that cases decided within six months of the date of assignment and within nine months after assignment in the Supreme Court.

The Court of Civil Appeals is responsible for the majority of appellate decisions. These opinions may be released for publication either by the Court of Civil Appeals or by the Supreme Court. When the opinions are released for publication by the Supreme Court, they have precedential value. The Court of Civil Appeals is made up of four divisions, each composed of three Judges. Two divisions of the Court of Civil Appeals are located in Oklahoma City and two are housed in Tulsa.