Oklahoma Constitution; eligibility for office of Attorney General; requiring a person to be an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Oklahoma who has been practicing law for at least five years; ballot title; filing.
Summary
HJR1070 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would change the eligibility requirements for Oklahoma’s Attorney General. Under the resolution, the Secretary of State would place the amendment before voters at an election for approval or rejection. The measure keeps the existing constitutional requirements for certain statewide offices, including U.S. citizenship, a minimum age of 31, and 10 years as a qualified elector of Oklahoma, but adds a new requirement specifically for Attorney General.
If approved, the amendment would require the Attorney General to be an attorney licensed to practice law in Oklahoma and to have practiced law for at least five years. The resolution also sets out the ballot title that would appear before voters and directs the House clerk to file the measure with the Secretary of State and Attorney General after passage. Because this is a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment, it would not itself change statutory law; instead, it would place the question on the ballot for a statewide vote, and any change would take effect only if voters approve it.
Impact
The measure would amend Section 3 of Article VI of the Oklahoma Constitution by adding a profession-based qualification for the office of Attorney General. It would not directly alter ordinary state statutes, but it would change the constitutional framework governing eligibility for a statewide executive office. If adopted by voters, future candidates for Attorney General would need to meet the new bar-admission and five-year practice requirements in addition to the existing constitutional qualifications.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests strong support for the proposal. It passed the House Rules Committee unanimously and then passed the House on third reading by a 89-0 vote. No committee transcripts are available, but the recorded votes indicate broad bipartisan agreement or at least no visible opposition in the chamber to advancing the measure.
Contention
The main point of contention, based on the text itself, is the policy choice to narrow eligibility for Attorney General by requiring active Oklahoma law licensure and five years of practice. Supporters appear to view this as a way to ensure legal experience for the state’s chief legal officer, while potential critics could argue it restricts the pool of candidates and adds a professional qualification not required for other statewide offices. However, the available record does not show any recorded opposition in committee or on the House floor.