Attorneys would be appointed to Oklahoma's Judicial Nominating Commission by leaders of the House and Senate under legislation adopted by a House committee.
The House Rules Committee voted 6-1 for the bill Wednesday and sent it to the full House for a vote.
The 15-member commission nominates candidates for gubernatorial appointment to fill judicial vacancies.
Six members are lawyers who are elected by members of the Oklahoma Bar Association. The measure would allow the speaker of the House to appoint three and the president pro tem of the Senate to appoint three.
Rep. Mark McCullough of Sapulpa says the change would better reflect the will of the people. But Rep. Kay Floyd of Oklahoma City says it would make the appointments more partisan.
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