Forfeiture Hearing Long Distance From Committee Members

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By Mike McCarville

Only one of the 10 members of the Senate Judiciary Committee live anywhere near the site designated for an interim study hearing on civil asset forfeiture. The site is more than 100 miles away from the State Capitol.

Selection of the remote Tulsa Police Academy for the September 1st hearing follows weeks of controversy over reform of the forfeiture law. Senator Kyle Loveless and others argue the law needs reform, while some in law enforcement argue it is a vital tool in the war on drugs. The Capitol is the usual site for such hearings; on rare occasion, there is a compelling reason to hold one elsewhere. TMR has asked Senator Anthony Sykes, the committee chairman, why he chose the Tulsa site; he has not responded to our question.

Particularly odd about this site selection is that it is nowhere near where nine-tenths of the members of the committee live or work, thus raising the specter of non-attendance by many of them. Two of the 10 have told TMR they cannot attend because of the distance and time it would take.

Here’s a list of the members and their cities:

Senator Anthony Sykes – Chair, Moore
Senator Brian Crain – Vice Chair, Tulsa

Senator Corey Brooks, Washington
Senator Kay Floyd, Oklahoma City
Senator A J Griffin, Guthrie
Senator David Holt, Oklahoma City

Senator John Sparks, Norman
Senator Rob Standridge, Norman
Senator Roger Thompson, Okemah
Senator Greg Treat, Oklahoma City


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  1. Norma, 27 August, 2015

    I woulkd like to know the reason also? Curious!

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