OKLAHOMA CITY –State Reps Mike Reynolds and Mike Ritze announced today they plan on filing legislation to help facilitate removal of judges who give child rapists and murderers “slap on the hand” sentences.

Representative Ritze, R-Broken Arrow said “After Oklahoma made national headlines with the sentence of child rapist David Earls by District Judge Tom Bartheld,  you would have thought other Oklahoma judges would have begun to understand that the public will not put up with their bleeding hearts.” 

 “It seems Judge Kellough must live in a different world”, added Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City . “When a jury recommends Life in prison and the judge gives a sentence of only12 years, there doesn’t seem to even be a reason to have juries.”

Yesterday, Tulsa County Judge William Kellough reduced the jury’s recommended sentence of child murderer Larry Neeley. Neeley caused 20 month old Jason Joseph to die from blunt force trauma and a lacerated liver after being thrown into a dresser drawer while the child’s mother was away from home.

 The two lawmakers were appalled to find out the lengthy process to remove judges when they misuse their judicial powers. Under current statutes, the only authority over these judges the Legislature has is the ability to “ask” the Council on Judicial Complaints to investigate these judges. Additionally, the Legislature is not even privy to the results of the investigation.

 “Something needs to be done to make sure no more judges allow rapists and murderers get off with ridiculous sentences, which just laughs in the face of the victims, their families, and ultimately society.” said Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City . “We plan to file legislation giving the legislature far greater authority to remove judges who apparently think they are immune to removal and to require strict adherence to jury sentences”.

 “These judges have abused and exploited their judicial powers to the point that they are no longer fit to serve Oklahoma as a judge,” said Ritze.  “We must still ensure that people like David Earls and Larry Neeley never again are given the opportunity to escape justice because of weak prosecutors and judges.”

 In an effort to overcome the massive campaign contributions that these judges receive from criminal defense lawyers, Reynolds and Ritze have also committed to forming a watchdog organization that will target judges during election cycles so that voters can be informed of their disturbing records.