A judge has temporarily restored extra unemployment payments for Oklahomans

An Oklahoma County Judge has temporarily reinstated extra benefits for unemployed Oklahomans that Gov. Kevin Stitt cut off early in late June.

Oklahoma is now one of three states where lawsuits have thwarted orders by governors to end the federally-increased unemployment aid early.

The expanded benefits offer $300 extra per week for those receiving unemployment payments and allowed workers traditionally barred from receiving the benefits such as gig workers and extended the amount of time workers could draw unemployment through Sept. 6.

The judge in the case, Oklahoma County District Judge Anthony L. Bonner, Jr., who Stitt appointed to the bench by Stitt earlier this year, heard arguments on Thursday from attorneys for the 13 plaintiffs in the case, which was originally filed in Tulsa County, and from the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office, who represented defendant Oklahoma Employment Security Commissioner Shelley Zumwalt.

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