A posting Tuesday of Oklahoma Supreme Court orders showed the State Justices denied a request by Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett who wanted more time to respond to the lawsuit filed against him by three legislators.
The posting only said his bid for a 14-day extension of time was denied and offered no reason. The response had yet to be posted as of Tuesday afternoon. Commissioner Hiett, sued by Reps. Tom Gann of Inola, Kevin West of Moore and Rick West of Heavener, filed a request several days ago, stating he had not received any indication that Attorney General Gentner Drummond would represent him in the legislator’s request for a writ of prohibition.
Hiett has until Sept. 27 to respond and wanted the deadline extended to Oct. 11. The legislators accused him of ethics and judicial violations for his continuing votes cases in cases involving ONG, OGE and PSO. The three Representatives argued Hiett should have recused himself after he was accused of drunkenness and the “sexual assault” of a man who represents a majority Oklahoma utility that goes before the Corporation Commission.
The allegations surfaced in July following a June national convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota where the alleged incident occurred in a hotel bar. Hiett refused calls to resign from the Commission but removed himself as chairman and was succeeded by Commissioner Kim David.
