During its August Commission meeting, newly appointed Ethics Commissioners, Justin Meek, and Eddie Fields, were administered their Oaths of Office by Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, Richard Darby.
They join the following Commissioners:
- Gregg Engle (Republican, 2nd Congressional District) appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Term ends July 2024. [Chair]
- Jarred Brejcha (Independent, 1st Congressional District) appointed by Speaker of the House of Representatives. Term ends July 2024.
- Howard Johnson (Democrat, 4th Congressional District) appointed by the Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Term ends July 2026.
Commissioner Justin Meek was appointed by Governor Kevin Stitt to represent the 5th Congressional District of Oklahoma. He is a founder and partner at DeWitt, Paruolo, & Meek, PLLC in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Justin practices civil litigation representing both plaintiffs and defendants with a focus on insurancelaw, attorney malpractice, personal injury, and contracts. Meek received his undergraduate degree from Oklahoma State University and his law degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law. Justin is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association, Oklahoma County Bar Association, and serves as a board member of the Oklahoma City University School of Law Alumni Association. Justin and his wife Becky are parents to Allie and Gray. He is registered as Independent with the Oklahoma Election Board and his term with the Commission expires July 2027.
Former Senator Eddie Fields was appointed by Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor in July 2022 to represent Oklahoma’s 3rd Congressional District. Commissioner Fields served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives 2008-2010 and the Oklahoma State Senate from 2010-2018. During his time in the senate, Commissioner Fields served as the Agriculture and Rural Development Chair, Rules Chairman and Vice Chair of Appropriations Committee along with being Assistant Majority Floor Leader. Commissioner Fields is president of Fields Ranches Inc. along with his wife Chris and their three daughters located in Wynona, Oklahoma. He graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1990 with a bachelors degree in Agri-Business. Fields is a registered Republican and his term with the Commission expires July 2027.
The Oklahoma Ethics Commission
A constitutionally based Commission created by Oklahoma citizens through SQ 627 1990, the Commission is required to promulgate Ethics Rules, with accompanying civil penalties for violation of those Rules, for the conduct of:
- campaigns for elective state office,
- campaigns for initiative and referenda, and
- state officers and employees.
The Commission is required to investigate alleged violations of its Rules and may file civil lawsuits in District Court for violations of its Rules.
Commissioners are appointed from the three branches of government without any branch having appointment of a majority of Commissioners. The Commission is required to be geographically representative of Oklahoma with Commissioners appointed from each of Oklahoma’s Congressional Districts by the Governor, Oklahoma Attorney General, Speaker of the House of Representatives, President Pro Tempore of the Senate and Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Serving staggered five year terms, Commissioners must be registered voters and no more than three Commissioners may have the same political registration. Commissioners are ineligible to serve in elected office for two years after the completion of their term and may only be removed from the Commission using the process in Article VIII of the Constitution.
Ethics Commission
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