A judge declined to halt signature collection on a citizen petition seeking a grand jury investigation of Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler, KTUL and FOX23 reported the night of Nov. 3.
Petitioners can keep gathering signatures while the court considers a separate motion that could throw out the petition entirely. According to both outlets, the judge is expected to rule Friday on whether the petition can remain in place.
Where the signatures stand
Attorney Shar Agosto, who represents the petitioner Grand Jury Justice, said the group had 3,740 signatures, not counting the previous night's. "Today, without counting on last night's signatures, we have 3740," she said. The group says it needs 5,000 but is aiming for about 7,000 to 8,000 to allow for invalid signatures.
KTUL and FOX23 put the signature deadline at Nov. 19. KJRH earlier reported Nov. 18.
The legal fight
Kunzweiler's lawyers moved to dismiss the petition. The DA's office has said: "We do not know who the petitioner 'Grand Jury Justice' is." Agosto described the group's reading of the timeline this way: "The case law says 45 days and means 45 days."
The group says the petition aims to determine whether the DA's office violated victims' rights, not to pursue political motives.
What we know and what we don't
- Known: a judge declined to pause signature collection, per KTUL and FOX23.
- Known: a ruling on the separate motion that could end the petition is expected Friday.
- Known: the group reports 3,740 signatures before counting the previous night's, against a 5,000 requirement.
- Open: the judge's name and the exact motion decided, which the KTUL and FOX23 reports do not state.
- Open: whether the deadline is Nov. 18 or Nov. 19.
- Open: who funds and organizes Grand Jury Justice, and what specific allegations the petition lays out.
What you can do: If you have information about the petition or the DA's office, send a tip to Guerrilla News.
Sources
- KTUL: Judge declines to halt signature collection in Tulsa DA grand jury petition fight
- FOX23: Judge declines to halt signature collection in Tulsa DA grand jury petition fight
- KJRH: DA Kunzweiler seeks dismissal of petition for grand jury against his office
- KJRH: Grand jury petition seeks to reach investigation into Tulsa County DA Kunzweiler
Everyone can join the discussion with a free account. Members get a badge, their comments stand out, and they are eligible for the pinned Top Comment. Join from $7 a month.