Court postpones hearing on cockfighting

<br>(Oklahoma City-AP) -- The Oklahoma Supreme Court is postponing a hearing on cockfighting until a request that justices be disqualified from the case is resolved. <br><br>The hearing was scheduled for

Thursday, February 6th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- The Oklahoma Supreme Court is postponing a hearing on cockfighting until a request that justices be disqualified from the case is resolved.

The hearing was scheduled for February 18th after Attorney General Drew Edmondson asked the court to rule that a voter approved ban on cockfighting is constitutional. The question was approved by voters in November.

Lawsuits in 27 counties have been filed to block the ban.

Supporters of cockfighting want the justices removed, saying they are apparently influenced by anti-cockfighting editorials or their own rulings against cockfighters in an earlier case.

The court has assigned Supreme Court referee Gregory Albert to hear the request. Cockfighters want Albert replaced by a person who doesn't work for the court.