Oklahoma Stacks the Deck Against Renters
John Moore was evicted from his apartment. Why, exactly, isn’t very clear.
As Heather Warlick reported, Moore was asleep in his apartment early one morning when Hunter Locust dropped by. Seeing no lights or activity, Locust sat down to wait for Moore to wake up. A neighbor complained; security approached. Although the security guard handcuffed and searched Locust, finding marijuana and a drug pipe, he never told the man to leave the property.
Police arrived, ordered the guard to remove the handcuffs, and ultimately let Locust go with a warning.
While the police were there, Moore awoke and opened his apartment door. He told police he knew Locust and that although Locust wasn’t expected, he wasn’t trespassing.
That was enough for the apartment manager to evict Moore and his 71-year-old aunt, who suffers with dementia, based on a lease addendum that says any criminal conduct or drug use on the premises by the tenant or their guests is a lease violation.
Whether any crime was committed is unclear, as Locust wasn’t charged and no one accused Moore of any crime. By definition, if Locust was trespassing, he wasn’t Moore’s guest. If he was Moore’s guest but wasn’t charged with a crime, the basis for the eviction is murky at best.
Even Judge M. Brooke Holman seemed unclear when she ruled for the landlord, referring to Locust as a trespasser one breath and as a guest in the next. Nonetheless, she decided the landlord had met the standard of proof that the lease was violated and ordered Moore and his aunt out of their home.
Oklahoma’s Landlord Tenant Act, which heavily favors landlords, makes possible such evictions regularly. Read Heather’s story to learn more.
More worth reading:
Judge Questioned About Dragging Case
For a second time since they filed their lawsuit more than 2½ years ago, plaintiffs in a case challenging an Oklahoma law against “critical race theory” have asked a federal judge to move along the proceedings. [The Oklahoman]
DOJ Threatens Lawsuit
The Department of Justice has warned state leaders that their recently minted immigration law targeting undocumented immigrants is unconstitutional. In a letter to Gov. Kevin Stitt and Attorney General Gentner Drummond, the agency said it will file suit to strike down the law if the state attempts to enforce it. House Bill 4156 is set to become effective July 1. [Oklahoma Voice]
Revised Domestic Violence Bill Goes to Governor
A measure allowing judges more discretion in the sentencing of domestic violence victims who commit violence against their abusers is headed to the governor after passing the Oklahoma House of Representatives on Monday. Senate Bill 1835, by Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, is a reworked version of earlier legislation vetoed by Gov. Kevin Stitt earlier this session. Stitt indicated on Friday that he will sign this form of the legislation. [Tulsa World]
Six Tribes Withold Tag Info
A handful of Oklahoma-based tribes are refusing to share their tag information with law enforcement amid ongoing anger and frustration over an abrupt change in how state law enforcement is enforcing license plate policies for Indigenous residents. [Oklahoma Voice]
“Anything can have happened in Oklahoma. Practically everything has.”
— Edna Ferber
Ciao for now,
Ted Streuli
Executive Director, Oklahoma Watch
tstreuli@oklahomawatch.org
