Well-known Oklahoma attorney Stephen Jones will represent three lawmakers who are petitioning the Oklahoma Supreme Court to disallow Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett from voting on matters which include possible victims involved with alleged incidents by Hiett while intoxicated. Representatives Tom Gann, Kevin West, and Rick West petitioned the Supreme Court in September.
Jones was the defense attorney for Oklahoma City Federal Building bomber Timothy McVeigh and other high-profile cases.
“Throughout his long history representing high-profile defendants, Stephen Jones has been a champion of civil rights and constitutional due process rights. We are very happy to have his help in this matter,” the three state representatives said in a joint statement.
Hiett has stepped down as chairman of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission but has not recused himself from votes. The Commission has hired a law firm to investigate possible criminal wrongdoing. Hiett says he is seeking treatment.
Oral arguments over the petition are set for November 12.
“Our petition argues that the due process rights of millions of Oklahoma ratepayers are being violated by Commissioner Hiett in utility cases worth billions of dollars. His alleged drunken and sexual misconduct toward and in front of utility company representatives has tainted these cases, and ratepayers already are suffering from it.
“We believe the rate payers in Oklahoma deserve fair and impartial representation from the Corporation Commission, and we are pleased Stephen Jones agrees with us. With his help and the court’s, we are confident judicial integrity and ratepayers’ constitutional rights can be restored at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission,” said the trio of lawmakers.
