State High Court Declines To Hear Arguments Challenging Tulsa County Sheriff Candidate

The Oklahoma Supreme Court has declined to hear a case in which a Tulsa County sheriff candidate challenged the qualifications of another, records show.

The 5-4 ruling, filed on Monday, will keep John Fitzpatrick on the ballot.

Fellow candidate Jason Jackson, a sergeant with the Jenks Police Department, argued that Fitzpatrick didn’t meet the state law that says candidates for sheriff need to be currently certified peace officers. Fitzpatrick is a businessman and a 10-year reserve deputy.

Fitzpatrick said reserves have the same authority as paid officers and says he has more than 400 hours of CLEET training and an estimated 8,000 hours on patrol.

12/17/2016 Related Story: Three Tulsa County Sheriff Candidates Removed From Ballot

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Jackson went to the state’s high court after he unsuccessfully raised the issue to the Tulsa County Election Board in December.

Monday's concurring votes were from Oklahoma Supreme Court Vice Chief Justice Douglas L. Combs, Joseph Watt, James  Winchester, James  Edmondson and Steven Taylor. Dissenting were Chief Justice John Reif, Yvonne  Kauger, Tom Colbert and Noma Gurich.

The primary is March 1 and a special general election is April 5 to replace former sheriff Stanley Glanz, who resigned amid a controversial shooting and a grand jury probe.

TCSO Reserve Deputy Shooting Controversy