Oklahoma Statutes

Okla. Stat. tit. 51, § 24.1 (2026)

Suspension or forfeiture of office or employment upon

✓ current as of July 2026

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conviction of felony - Vacancy - Salary and benefits - Governor notified in writing. A. Any elected or appointed state or county officer or employee who, during the term for which he or she was elected or appointed, is, or has been, found guilty by a trial court of a felony in a state or federal court of competent jurisdiction shall be automatically suspended from the office or employment. B. The Governor shall appoint an interim successor to serve during the period of suspension of any county commissioner or any state officer other than a member of the State Legislature. C. A vacancy created by the suspension of a member of the State Legislature shall be filled as provided in Section 20 of Article V of the Oklahoma Constitution. D. A vacancy created by the suspension of a county officer other than a county commissioner shall be filled as provided by Section 10 of this title. E. In the event any elected or appointed state or county officer or employee who, during the term for which he or she was elected or appointed, pleads guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or any offense involving a violation of his or her official oath in a state or federal court of competent jurisdiction, he or she shall, immediately upon the entry of the plea, forfeit the office or employment. F. Any such officer or employee upon final conviction of, or pleading guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony in a state or federal court of competent jurisdiction shall vacate such office or employment and if such felony is for bribery, corruption, forgery or perjury or any other crime related to the duties of his or her office or employment, or related to campaign contributions or campaign financing for that or any other office, shall forfeit all

benefits of the office or employment, including, but not limited to, retirement benefits provided by law, however, the forfeiture of retirement benefits shall not occur if any such officer or employee received a deferred sentence, but retirement benefits shall not commence prior to completion of the deferred sentence. The forfeiture of retirement benefits required by this subsection shall not include such officer's or employee's contributions to the retirement system or retirement benefits that are vested on the effective date of this act. G. The forfeiture of retirement benefits as provided by subsection F of this section shall also apply to any such officer or employee who, after leaving the office or employment, is convicted of, or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to, in a state or federal court of competent jurisdiction, a felony committed while in such office or employment, where the felony is for bribery, corruption, forgery or perjury or any other crime related to the duties of his or her office or employment, or related to campaign contributions or campaign financing for that or any other office. H. Any claims for payment of salary or wages, or any claims for payment of any other benefits, to any such officer or employee suspended from or forfeiting his or her office or employment shall be rejected by the proper authority. I. Such suspension or forfeiture shall continue until such time as the conviction or guilty plea is reversed by the highest appellate court to which the officer or employee may appeal. J. The attorney responsible for prosecuting such elected or appointed state or county officers or employees shall notify the retirement system in which such officer or employee is enrolled of the forfeiture of such officer's or employee's retirement benefits. Upon receipt of the notice of forfeiture, the retirement system shall immediately suspend all benefits of the officer or employee, and notify the officer or employee of his or her right to a hearing to review whether the conviction or plea qualifies for forfeiture of benefits under this section. If the conviction or plea occurs in federal court or the notice of forfeiture is not forthcoming from the State prosecutor, the retirement system may investigate and gather court documents and contact prosecutors to determine whether the conviction or plea qualifies under this section. Upon obtaining sufficient documentation of the conviction or plea, the retirement system shall immediately suspend all benefits of the officer or employee, and notify the officer or employee of his or her right to a hearing to review whether the conviction or plea qualifies for forfeiture of benefits under this section. K. Within three (3) days of the conviction or plea of guilty or nolo contendere of a county commissioner, the district attorney of the county where such county commissioner served shall notify the Governor, in writing, of the suspension, the date of conviction or

plea of guilty or nolo contendere resulting in suspension, and the felony committed. L. Within three (3) days of the conviction or plea of guilty or nolo contendere of an elected or appointed state officer, the attorney responsible for prosecuting such state officer, shall notify the Governor in writing of the suspension, the date of conviction or plea of guilty or nolo contendere resulting in suspension, and the felony committed. Added by Laws 1965, c. 345, § 1, emerg. eff. June 28, 1965. Amended by Laws 1981, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 1, § 3, emerg. eff. Sept. 8, 1981; Laws 1987, c. 30, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1987; Laws 1998, c. 419, § 8, eff. July 1, 1998; Laws 2009, c. 77, § 1, eff. July 1, 2009.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 9 cases, 1982–2020 · leading case: Stipe v. State Ex Rel. Bd. of Trs., 2008 OK 52 (Okla. 2008).

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Stipe v. State Ex Rel. Bd. of Trs., 2008 OK 52 (Okla. 2008). · cites it 15× “By letter dated June 23, 2003, general counsel for OPERS notified Stipe that her office had determined that the crimes for which he pled guilty violated his oath of office as a state officer and that according to 51 O.S. § 24.1, all retirement benefits that were not vested on…”

State Ex Rel. Porter v. Ferrell, 1998 OK 41 (Okla. 1998). · cites it 6× “The Court of Civil Appeals reconciled the two statutes by holding that 51 O.S.1991 § 24.1 (the forfeiture provision) applied only to non-classified employees, and that 74 O.”

Hopkins v. Oklahoma Pub. Employees Ret. Sys., 150 F.3d 1155 (10th Cir. 1998). · cites it 5× “This forfeiture of more than two-thirds of Hopkins’ pension came as a result of Okla. Stat. tit. 51, § 24.1 (A), which provides for the forfeiture of retirement benefits when a public employee is convicted of a felony or other offense involving a violation of his oath of office.”

Abitbol v. Priore, 797 P.2d 335 (Okla. 1990). · cites it 2× “See 51 O.S.Supp.1987 § 24.1(A), whose pertinent terms are: "Any elected or appointed state or county officer or employee who, during the term for which he was elected or appointed, is, or has been, found guilty by a trial court of a felony .”

Hemphill v. Harbuck, 326 P.3d 521 (Okla. 2014). “51 O.S.2011, § 24.1(A). ¶11 This is the perfect example of the swarm of inmate recreational litigation clogging our courts.”

Hemphill v. Harbuck, 2014 OK 24 (Okla. 2014). “51 O.S.2011, § 24.1(A). ¶11 This is the perfect example of the swarm of inmate recreational litigation clogging our courts.”

Vicki Baumgartner, Pers. Rep. Of The Est. of Richard R. Baumgartner v. Tennessee Consol. Ret. Sys. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2018). “1992); see also Okla. Stat. tit. 51, § 24.1 (A) (forfeiting a public employee’s pension benefit upon the employee’s felony conviction for “a felony or any offense involving a violation of his official oath”).”

Bingley v. Whitten (E.D. Okla. 2020). “26, § 5 -105a (2011)); continue or obtain State or County office or employment ( Okla. Stat. tit. 51, § 24.1 (2011)); bear arms ( Okla.”

L'Acquarius v. Hampton, 642 P.2d 1143 (Okla. 1982). “Inmates incarcerated in state penal institutions for convictions of felonies are not “reputable citizens of the county” within the meaning of 51 O.”

— Okla. Stat. tit. 51, § 24.1(A) — 6 cases

Stipe v. State Ex Rel. Bd. of Trs., 2008 OK 52 (Okla. 2008). “By letter dated June 23, 2003, general counsel for OPERS notified Stipe that her office had determined that the crimes for which he pled guilty violated his oath of office as a state officer and that according to 51 O.S. § 24.1, all retirement benefits that were not vested on…”

State Ex Rel. Porter v. Ferrell, 1998 OK 41 (Okla. 1998). “The Court of Civil Appeals reconciled the two statutes by holding that 51 O.S.1991 § 24.1 (the forfeiture provision) applied only to non-classified employees, and that 74 O.”

Abitbol v. Priore, 797 P.2d 335 (Okla. 1990). “See 51 O.S.Supp.1987 § 24.1(A), whose pertinent terms are: "Any elected or appointed state or county officer or employee who, during the term for which he was elected or appointed, is, or has been, found guilty by a trial court of a felony .”

Hopkins v. Oklahoma Pub. Employees Ret. Sys., 150 F.3d 1155 (10th Cir. 1998). “This forfeiture of more than two-thirds of Hopkins’ pension came as a result of Okla. Stat. tit. 51, § 24.1 (A), which provides for the forfeiture of retirement benefits when a public employee is convicted of a felony or other offense involving a violation of his oath of office.”

Hemphill v. Harbuck, 326 P.3d 521 (Okla. 2014). “51 O.S.2011, § 24.1(A). ¶11 This is the perfect example of the swarm of inmate recreational litigation clogging our courts.”

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