Tension Grows Among Oklahoma Courts, Legislature

Long-running tension among Oklahoma's three branches of government reached a boiling point last week after a court decision in two death row cases.

Governor Mary Fallin accused the state's Supreme Court of overstepping its bounds, and some Republican lawmakers were so upset by the court's ruling that they called for the impeachment of justices.

4/22/2014 Related Story: Fallin Issues Stay, Says Oklahoma Court Went Too Far

The high court temporarily delayed the pending execution of two death row inmates, then later dropped the stays.

4/26/2014 Related Story: Oklahoma Court Won't Delay Men's Executions

The rift between the Supreme Court on one side and the Republican governor and legislature on the other has been growing for some time.

Despite the rancor, when the Republican-controlled House had an opportunity Thursday to give the Legislature more power in the selection of judges, the attempt was overwhelmingly shot down.