Choctaw County was created in 1907 and named after the founder of the Choctaw tribe that inhabited the area. The county has a population of over 14,200 residents and 7,066 housing units. Its seat is Hugo City. 

Courts in Choctaw County

The Choctaw County District Court is the county’s highest trial court. It has jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases arising from the county. Its civil division includes a small claims court that handles cases involving an amount not exceeding $10,000. The procedures of the small claims division are largely informal, and parties do not often need an attorney. 

The District Court also has probate, family, and juvenile divisions.  The probate division handles cases on guardianships and conservatorships, administration of deceased estates, trusts, and wills. Matters within the jurisdiction of the family division include domestic violence, dissolution of marriage, child support, custody, paternity, and other family issues. The juvenile division handles cases of child abuse and neglect, and juvenile delinquency.

Municipal Courts operate in Choctaw County cities and towns. Their jurisdiction is limited to municipal ordinance violations and offenses not classified as felonies under state law.

Furthermore, the Workers’ Compensation Court of Existing Claims handles claims brought pursuant to the Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Act, while the Court of Tax Review exercises jurisdiction over tax matters.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Choctaw County

The Choctaw District Court Clerk maintains most court records in the county. Interested persons can access these records online on the public court records search portal. Alternatively, contact the Clerk’s office to request the records. For records of the Court of Existing Claim, complete the record request form and submit it to the courthouse in person or by mail. Similarly, records of the Municipal Courts are accessible at the relevant court that heard the case.

Types of Public Court Records in Choctaw County

Choctaw County court records are case information, documents, and materials that are accessible to the public. They include:

• Court dockets
• Case filings
• Pleadings
• Court judgments and orders
• Evidence tendered

Confidential Court Records in Choctaw County

Oklahoma laws protect certain court records from public access. Such records are considered confidential and can only be accessed by persons or bodies stipulated under the law. Examples of confidential court records in Choctaw County are:

• Juvenile records
• Records sealed by court order
• Record protected under attorney-client privilege
• Records of pending cases

Juvenile Delinquency in Choctaw, OK

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Choctaw County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Oklahoma often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 24 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Choctaw County. Of that total, 100% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 24 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Choctaw County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Choctaw County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Choctaw County, OK

https://www.ok.gov/

County Seat:	Hugo
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1907
Total Square Miles:	800
2019 Population:	14,863
Persons/Square Mile:	0.05
County Contact:	300 E Duke St County Courthouse Hugo , OK 74743-4044

Choctaw County, OK Courts