Rule 11.Judges, Uniformity of Rulings

Rules for District Courts of Oklahoma · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified August 3, 2026

In one sentenceBars a party from knowingly re-presenting the same legal, factual, or procedural question in the same case to a different judge in the district without disclosing the earlier judge's ruling, and lets the second judge vacate his own order for a violation before final judgment.

Full Text of Rule 11

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When a question of law, fact or procedure has been presented to a judge, the same question, so far as it relates to the same case, shall not thereafter knowingly be presented to another judge sitting in the district without apprising the subsequent judge of the former judge's ruling or, if no ruling has been made, that such question has already been presented to the first judge. Where this rule has been violated, an order that is issued by the second judge may be vacated by him at any time before the entry of a final judgment.

End

Plain-English Summary

Once a question tied to a case has gone to one judge, Rule 11 keeps a party from quietly taking the same question to a different judge sitting in the same district. The party has to disclose the earlier judge's ruling, or, if there was no ruling, that the question was already presented. If this rule is violated, the second judge may vacate his own order at any time before a final judgment is entered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I ask a different judge to reconsider a ruling I didn't like?

Not without telling the second judge about the first judge's ruling. Rule 11 requires you to disclose that the same question already went to another judge in the district.

What if the first judge never ruled on the question at all?

You still have to tell the second judge that the question was already presented, even without a ruling.

What happens if someone violates this rule?

The second judge can vacate the order he entered, at any time before a final judgment is entered in the case.

Does this rule apply across different districts?

No. Rule 11 applies to judges sitting in the same district.

Source & verification. Rule text is reproduced verbatim from the Rules for District Courts of Oklahoma, promulgated by the Supreme Court of Oklahoma as an appendix to Chapter 2 of Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Last verified August 3, 2026. · Official source

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