OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday in a case brought by three lawmakers who believe Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett should be disqualified from taking part in commission business, including decision making involving utility rates paid by Oklahomans for gas and electricity.
Hiett has been accused of sexually groping a man while drunk in a hotel bar last June in Minneapolis. The two men were there for a professional conference attended by utility company officials and state regulators from Oklahoma and other states. The man Hiett allegedly groped was identified by witnesses as a lawyer who represents a company regulated by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.
The three state lawmakers, Reps. Tom Gann, Kevin West and Rick West, all Republicans, filed paperwork on Sept. 13 asking the court to issue an order prohibiting Hiett from casting votes in cases involving Oklahoma Natural Gas, Oklahoma Gas & Electric and Public Service Co. of Oklahoma. They asserted that Hiett’s position as a state official had been compromised and that any judgment he might make in a rate case or any other should be considered “tainted” and subject to appeal.
People are also reading…
Hiett, also a Republican, is a former speaker of the House of Representatives.
During Tuesday’s roughly hourlong hearing in the Supreme Court’s chambers at the State Capitol, attorney Stephen Jones, representing the three lawmakers, and Joe White, representing Hiett, didn’t argue over specifics of the allegations but rather over whether the Supreme Court was the proper venue for the case. Justices were asked whether the state’s Ethics Commission might be more appropriate, or whether it should be taken up by the Legislature as part of an impeachment proceeding.
“We have a situation in which a commissioner conducted himself, allegedly, grossly improperly in a public building, in a hotel around other members of other state regulators and commissioners (and) companies that have appeared before him and his own employees, and I think it’s fair to say no one has done anything about that,” Jones said.
Jones contended that the Supreme Court has acted in the past to disqualify a commissioner and that courts have in other states as well.
White countered that the court was being asked to make a judgment based on evidence that has never been presented or weighed in a legal setting.
“This proceeding provides no due process, none, to my client,” Hiett’s attorney said. “That’s why I talk about conjecture and speculation, because I’ve had no benefit of discovery, no putting people under oath.”
He suggested that the three state lawmakers should first take the case to colleagues in the Legislature.
“What they are requesting this court to do is to issue a blanket order disqualifying Commissioner Hiett without any hearing that is judicial in nature,” White said. “This request would effectively remove Mr. Hiett from his office, to which he was duly elected. This is an improper request.”
White went on to say that the case that the court was asked to consider involved only “unproven allegations made anonymously.”
“Commissioner Hiett does not know who these individuals are, nor what they’ve alleged,” he said.
In previous comments to the media, Hiett did not deny the allegations as reported, but he said he did not remember what happened in the hotel bar and insisted that he was probably just joking around. He also said that he had sought out help for a problem with alcohol.
In questions posed to the attorneys, some of the Supreme Court justices seemed to express doubts that Hiett should be barred from taking part in Corporation Commission business based on the case as presented.
Jones pointed out that, earlier in the day, the lawmakers had filed a supplement to their original petition. It included witness statements about the alleged incident in Minnesota.
“No matter how it’s dressed up, that’s what the witnesses said,” Jones said.
It is unclear when a decision might be handed down by the court.
Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony, who also has called on Hiett to be barred from participating in commission business, issued a statement after the hearing.
“Today, in response to a question from Chief Justice Kane, Commissioner Hiett’s attorney agreed that Hiett is ‘bound by’ both Ethics Rule 4.7 and Code of Judicial Conduct Rule 2.11. The simple reading of those laws is clear: Where a reasonable person would question Hiett’s impartiality in a matter/proceeding, Hiett must disqualify himself. Not doing so violates the law, whether the cases are legislative or judicial.
“Regardless of how the Court rules on this petition, Oklahoma utility customers owe a debt of gratitude to State Reps. Tom Gann, Kevin West and Rick West for their willingness to stand up for what’s right — and not just with words, but with action.”
The Tulsa World is where your story lives
The Tulsa World newsroom is committed to covering this community with curiosity, tenacity and depth. Our passion for telling the story of Tulsa remains unwavering. Because your story is our story. Thank you to our subscribers who support local journalism. Join them with limited-time offers at tulsaworld.com/story.
steve.metzer@tulsaworld.com
Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox!
Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
Source link
Attorneys and law firms can elevate their online presence with professionally written content from SEO Content Writing Services monthly plan. Our team of experienced writers specializes in crafting blog posts, articles, and written content that accurately reflect the expertise and knowledge of our clients in the legal field. With a keen eye for detail and a thorough understanding of legal terminology, we provide high-quality writing that helps our clients stand out from their competition and engage with their target audience. Trust SEO Content Writing Services for one time article writing or monthly written content to handle all of your written content needs and showcase your law firm's expertise.
If you need written content, blog posts, or articles professionally written for your website, we can help. Go HERE to find out more.
or email us here: myseowritingservices@gmail.com
To find out more about our article writing or blog post services, fill out the form, thank you.
