§ 1003 Governor may require opinion of appellate judges.

If the Governor is deciding whether to grant a pardon, commutation, or similar action in a criminal case, this rule lets the Governor ask for help. The Governor can request written opinions from the judges of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals about the case.

The Governor doesn't have to ask every judge. The Governor can request an opinion from just one judge, a few of them, or all of them. This gives the Governor a way to get legal input from experienced criminal court judges before making a final decision on someone's case.

This process only kicks in after the Governor has already received a written statement about the case, likely from the judge or prosecutor who handled it originally. The judges' opinions act as extra guidance, helping the Governor make a more informed choice.