Our state has two courts of last resort (meaning two courts of final appeal in a decision): the Supreme Court and the Court of Criminal Appeals. The Oklahoma Supreme Court determines all civil issues, and the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals decides all criminal matters. Justices and judges of these two courts as well as those of the Court of Civil Appeals (a lower court) are appointed by the Governor from a list of three names submitted by the Oklahoma Judicial Nominating Commission.

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In this state, all who are engaged in lawsuits (i.e., litigants) have a right to an appeal. All appeals in civil cases are made to the Oklahoma Supreme Court and may be made from the District Courts, Workers’ Compensation Court of Existing Claims, Court of Tax Review, and state agencies such as the Department of Public Safety, Oklahoma Tax Commission, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, and the Department of Human Services. Many of these appeals are directed by the Supreme Court to one of the four divisions of the Court of Civil Appeals. Most cases reviewed in the Supreme Court are from the Court of Civil Appeals. Appeals to the Court of Criminal Appeals come directly from the District Courts.

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As new, important, or issues of great public interest arise, the Supreme Court may retain a case directly from the trial court. Additionally, matters are also presented to the Supreme Court within its general superintending control over all lower courts, agencies, commissions, and boards created by law—with the exception of the Court on the Judiciary as well as the Senate in sitting as a Court of Impeachment.

- The Third Branch