Golden v. Okfuskee County Election Board

I would reinstate the petitioners’ declaration of candidacy. The expungement orders in the petitioners’ criminal cases constitute an “accrued right” under Art. 5 § 54, Okl. Const., and are hence protected from change by after-enacted legislation. The legal effect of a judgment, civil or criminal, must be determined by the law in force when judgment is rendered.1

There is another cogent constitutional ground for rejecting today’s challenge to the petitioners’ candidacy and for ordering their reinstatement on the ballot. Their legal disability to stand for election to a public office is claimed…