Former Democratic state legislator, special judge and Lt. Gov. Jari Askins has been hired to oversee Oklahoma's court system.
Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice John Reif announced Askins' hiring on Friday as the state's administrative director of the courts, effective Oct. 1.
Reif says Askins' hiring was a "conference decision" in which all nine justices participated. She will replace longtime administrator Michael Evans, who is retiring.
Reif says Askins will earn the same as a judge on the Court of Civil Appeals, or $138,235.
Askins has served in all three branches of government, including most recently as a special adviser to Gov. Mary Fallin for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. In that role, she's been implementing a court-ordered plan to improve the state's foster care system.
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