Todd Hiett remains a voting member of Oklahoma Corporation Commission, state Supreme Court rules

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that Todd Hiett can continue to vote on Corporation Commission cases. 

The court unanimously denied a petition Monday from three Republican lawmakers seeking to bar him from voting on cases before the commission, arguing that allegations of misconduct against Hiett would influence his vote. 

“I am pleased by the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in my favor,” Hiett said in a statement. “The legislators have indicated in the press they plan to appeal these cases. I will withhold any further comments until the appeals process has concluded.” 

Justice Douglas Combs wrote in a concurring opinion that petitioners and other ratepayers are not considered “aggrieved” until a final order is issued from the commission. He said at that point, an appeal may be brought directly to the Oklahoma Supreme Court from the district courts.  

Oral arguments took place Nov. 12 and centered around whether or not the state Supreme Court had the authority to take up this case. 

In a concurring opinion, Justice Dana Kuehn suggested that the Ethics Commission would be a better forum for the request for disqualification. 

“The Ethics Commission has the power to investigate the complaint, gather evidence, hold hearings, and give Respondent an opportunity to be heard before resolving the ethics claim,” she wrote. 

The petition, filed by Reps. Tom Gann, R-Inola, Kevin West, R-Moore, and Rick West, R-Heavener, in September, followed allegations of misconduct by Hiett. 

The Oklahoman reported that Hiett was observed groping a man and being intoxicated in June at an out-of-state regulatory conference and that he has also been accused of drunken driving after a 2023 event in Oklahoma City.

Hiett told the newspaper he drank too much in June but does not remember the incident. He told the newspaper he is getting treatment.

In a joint statement, the lawmakers said they knew this was a “legal long-shot.” 

“Although we are disappointed the Supreme Court did not step in at this point to prevent Commissioner Hiett from continuing to taint these cases, we are encouraged by comments in the justices’ written opinions,” the trio wrote. 

They said in a statement that their “pursuit of justice on behalf of Oklahoma utility ratepayers does not end here.”

The Corporation Commission is a three member body that regulates various industries in Oklahoma, from the state’s public utilities to its towing and oil industries.