Oklahoma Supreme Court Rules That OAB Has Right To Sue For Joe Mixon Tape

The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters (OAB) has the right to sue for the surveillance footage of Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon punching a female student in 2014.

The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that the OAB has a right to sue for the tape under Open Records, and that Judge Thad Balkman was not allowed to change his order so that the OAB would not have access to this right. 

All nine Justices agreed that the OAB has the cause to sue for the tape.  Two Justices felt that while the OAB has the right to sue for the tape, it should not use this ruling as a “Short-Cut” to getting the tape, meaning the association needs to go all the way back to an original trial in Norman to procure the tape.

Here’s a timeline of what has transpired:

1. OAB sues in Cleveland County for the tape in February of 2015 and loses on Summary Judgment from Judge Thad Balkman who claims Joe Mixon was not arrested so the tape is not a public record.
2. OAB appeals to the Appellate Court in Tulsa and wins the right to have its original case heard and that the Judge overstepped his bounds in denying us a trial.
3. Judge Balkman in February of 2016 alters his court order from the original trial to hopefully avoid being overturned on another appeal.
4. OAB decides to send the case directly to the Supreme Court given the mischievous tactic from Judge Balkman.
5. Supreme Court rules in the OAB's favor that the Judge can not alter his written order from the first trial.  Seven Justices believe the tape should be delivered to the OAB because it is an open record.  Two Justices believe the Judge erred but that the OAB needs to start at the beginning.