4 hrs ago
A gag order imposed by a judge in a transparency of government lawsuit has precluded Norman City Council members and city staff from speaking to the press about the case.
Associate District Judge Thomas K. Baldwin, of Carter County, presided over the local Fraternal Order of Police lawsuit against the City of Norman. Baldwin ruled on Dec. 4, 2020 that the council violated the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act when it failed to note amendments on the agenda that cut the Norman Police Departmentâs proposed budget increase by nearly $1 million during the June 16, 2020 meeting.
The ruling was upheld unanimously by the Oklahoma Supreme Court Tuesday, The Transcript reported.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Norman Fraternal Order of the Police, deciding the Norman City Council violated the state Open Meeting Act in its June 16 meeting.Â
In that meeting, Norman City Council members voted to cut $865,000 from a proposed increase to the Norman Police Departmentâs budget. In December 2020, Carter County Associate Judge Thomas K. Baldwin ruled the council violated the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act because the language used in the notice released prior to the meeting was âdeceptively wordedâ and âmaterially obscuredâ the meetingâs purpose, not indicated clearly the action the council would take.
OSBI: Investigation on Duncan Council completed, pending DA review mcalesternews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mcalesternews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The bench-dotted lawn between Gaylord and Gould halls is an uncommon location for Oklahoma’s public bodies to conduct business — but a pandemic and what some call an antiquated law