Candidate for Kay/Noble District Judge Challenges Oklahoma Law Restricting Political Affiliation Disclosure

On Sunday, May 31, 2026, NonDoc reported that Scott Loftis, a candidate for district judge in Kay and Noble counties, has filed a federal lawsuit challenging an Oklahoma law that prohibits judicial candidates from publicly disclosing their political affiliation. This legal challenge could potentially lead to a precedent-setting decision that may alter future judicial elections in the state.

Loftis, represented by attorneys from the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, filed the suit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. The lawsuit names members of the state Council on Judicial Complaints as defendants.

Loftis’s claims are based on three arguments under the First Amendment: that the Oklahoma statute barring judicial candidates from identifying with a political party is an unconstitutional content-based restriction on political speech; that Rule 4.1(A)(12)-(13) of the Oklahoma Judicial Code of Conduct is also an unconstitutional content-based restriction on political speech; and that two Oklahoma Judicial Ethics Advisory Panel opinions impose unconstitutional content-based restrictions on political speech.

In a declaration, Loftis stated his intention to campaign as a “conservative, law-and-order candidate” as a registered Republican. However, he asserts that he is compelled to limit his political speech due to the Judicial Ethics Advisory Panel opinions, fearing that identifying as a Republican could lead to disciplinary action.

The race for district judge in Kay and Noble counties also includes incumbent District Judge Lee Turner and candidate Rob Davis. The nonpartisan election is scheduled for June 16. A forum hosted by the Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce on May 29 provided a platform for the candidates, with the event streamed on Facebook and covered by Kay News Cow.

The district encompasses numerous communities in north-central Oklahoma, with courthouses located in Perry and Newkirk. Ponca City is the largest city in the district, with a population of approximately 24,000. Although most judicial positions in Oklahoma were filled by default in 2026, six judicial elections, including this one, will proceed to a June 16 primary due to more than two candidates filing. Approximately 33,000 registered voters in Kay and Noble counties will cast their ballots. If no candidate secures a majority, the top two will advance to a November runoff election.

Candidate biographies reveal Rob Davis, 35, born and raised in Ponca City, who joined the Oklahoma Bar Association in 2019 after graduating from the University of Colorado Law School. He has spent his career as a prosecutor and works as an adjunct instructor for Oklahoma State University. Davis’s platform focuses on increasing “efficiency” and “transparency” in the courts, citing delays in decisions as a motivation for his candidacy.

Scott Loftis, 47, grew up in Wichita, Kansas, and earned his juris doctorate from Oklahoma City University School of Law. He has experience in criminal defense, family law, and civil litigation, and is a member of conservative organizations such as the Federalist Society and the National Rifle Association. Loftis is campaigning as the “conservative law and order” candidate, expressing a desire to change the public’s perception of the local justice system, which he believes is not positive, particularly regarding the accountability of criminal defendants.

Incumbent Lee Turner, 69, born in Portales, New Mexico, and raised in Lawton, has a background as a police officer, prosecutor, and private practice attorney. He was appointed special judge in 2012 and first elected district judge in 2018, subsequently reelected in 2022. Turner states he adheres to a strict textualist and constitutionalist approach, emphasizing experience as crucial for the role. His campaign video, filmed in a courtroom, may potentially violate Oklahoma Ethics Commission rules regarding the use of state property for election advocacy.

U.S. District Judge Timothy DeGiusti issued an order on May 28, denying Loftis’s request for expedited response deadlines but granting his request for oral arguments and setting a hearing schedule for the week of July 20.