State Supreme Court Holding Hearing On Federal Unemployment Benefits Wednesday Morning

Wednesday morning, the state's highest court will hear two cases filed over federal unemployment benefits that were cut off early for Oklahomans.

That hearing will start at State Supreme Court at 10:30 a.m.

The court said it will be live streamed.

The Oklahoma Attorney General's office is representing OESC executive director Shelley Zumwalt.

The AG filed an emergency appeal on Monday.

Zumwalt is asking the State Supreme Court to reverse a decision made by a lower court to restart federal unemployment benefits.

Oklahoma County district judge Anthony Bonner ordered the restart of four pandemic related unemployment programs after Governor Kevin Stitt cut them off a few months early and put a limited state incentive plan in place instead.

In a post on social media the OESC said they're talking with the US labor department about steps to bring the benefits back.

"Following rulings resulting from the hearings at the Oklahoma Supreme Court this week, OESC will work with all relevant state and federal partners on any relevant next steps to move forward," said the commission.

This appeal will be heard immediately after a separate but similar case involving 10 Oklahomans who are asking the courts to restore benefits.