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Oklahoma · Snapshot open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14

Okla. Stat. tit. 85A, § 85A-78: Appeals process

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Where this section sits in the code
  1. OK Code
  2. Title 85A

A. Any party feeling aggrieved by the judgment, decision, or

award made by the administrative law judge may, within ten (10) days

of issuance, appeal to the Workers' Compensation Commission. After

hearing arguments, the Commission may reverse or modify the decision

only if it determines that the decision was against the clear weight

of the evidence or contrary to law. All such proceedings of the

Commission shall be recorded by a court reporter, if requested by

any party. Any judgment of the Commission which reverses a decision

of the administrative law judge shall contain specific findings

relating to the reversal.

B. The appellant shall pay a filing fee of One Hundred Seventy-

five Dollars ($175.00) to the Commission at the time of filing his

or her appeal. The fee shall be deposited to the credit of the

Workers' Compensation Commission Revolving Fund.

C. The judgment, decision or award of the Commission shall be

final and conclusive on all questions within its jurisdiction

between the parties unless an action is commenced in the Supreme

Court of this state to review the judgment, decision or award within

twenty (20) days of being sent to the parties. Any judgment,

decision or award made by an administrative law judge shall be

stayed until all appeal rights have been waived or exhausted. The

Supreme Court may modify, reverse, remand for rehearing, or set

aside the judgment or award only if it was:

1. In violation of constitutional provisions;

2. In excess of the statutory authority or jurisdiction of the

Commission;

3. Made on unlawful procedure;

4. Affected by other error of law;

5. Clearly erroneous in view of the reliable, material,

probative and substantial competent evidence;

6. Arbitrary or capricious;

7. Procured by fraud; or

8. Missing findings of fact on issues essential to the

decision.

This action shall be commenced by filing with the Clerk of the

Supreme Court a certified copy of the judgment, decision or award of

the Commission attached to the petition by the complaint which shall

specify why the judgment, decision or award is erroneous or illegal.

The proceedings shall be heard in a summary manner and shall have

precedence over all other civil cases in the Supreme Court, except

preferred Corporation Commission appeals. The Supreme Court shall

require the appealing party to file within forty-five (45) days from

the date of the filing of an appeal or a judgment appealed from, a

transcript of the record of the proceedings before the Commission,

or such later time as may be granted by the Supreme Court on

application and for good cause shown. The action shall be subject

to the law and practice applicable to other civil actions cognizable

in the Supreme Court.

D. A fee of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per appeal to the

Supreme Court shall be paid to the Commission and deposited to the

credit of the Workers' Compensation Commission Revolving Fund as

costs for preparing, assembling, indexing and transmitting the

record for appellate review. This fee shall be paid by the party

taking the appeal. If more than one party to the action files an

appeal from the same judgment, decision or award, the fee shall be

paid by the party whose petition in error commences the principal

appeal.

Collected 2026-09-14T18:32:36Z. Source file · JSON

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