For Immediate
Release: September 14, 2004
Audio Clip
Members of the Oklahoma State Senate are sworn in Tuesday
by
State Supreme Court Chief Justice Joseph M. Watt.
Senate Sets Date for Impeachment
Trial
Members of the State Senate approved two resolutions
on Tuesday that laid the groundwork for the impeachment
trial of State Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher to
begin on September 27, 2004 at 1:30 p.m.
“That will give both the defense and the prosecution
time to prepare. The morning of the 27th will be set aside
for motions if there need to be any heard, but we expect
to be ready to start promptly at 1:30 on September 27th,”
explained Charlie
Laster, Judiciary Chairman Designate for the State Senate.
The House Board of Managers, who will serve as prosecutors,
officially presented the Senate with the five articles of
impeachment approved by the House last week.
“We formally accepted those articles with the approval
of Senate Resolution 1. We also formally organized as a
court with the adoption of Senate Resolution 2 which details
the rules for conducting the trial,” Laster said.
During Tuesday’s session, the officers of the court
were given an oath of office, including State Supreme Court
Chief Justice Joseph M. Watt who will serve as presiding
officer of the court, as well as members of the Senate.
“The Senate does sit as a court of impeachment, so
the members of the Senate are the court. We have a presiding
officer who handles procedure, but basically the Senate
will be the jury and make the final determination whether
or not the commissioner should be removed from office.”
Although concerns have been raised as to whether the trial
could be completed by November 16, the last day in office
for some members of the legislature, Sen. Laster was confident
that the trial would be concluded in a timely way.
“By starting on September 27th I am very confident
that we will be done and we will fulfill our constitutional
requirements well in advance of November 16th.”
Audio from the State Senate proceedings can be heard live
on the Internet by going to www.oksenate.gov and selecting
the live audio link on the homepage.
For
more information contact:
Senate Communications Office -
(405) 521-5774
