Every Wednesday, District Judge Mike Norman conducts court in Sequoyah County. While he’s away, Norman requires his office to remain open and staffed.

Other judges close their offices when they are away, he said.

As salaried employees, the time off work does not count against vacation. Norman wants the discrepancy in office policies clarified.

“I’m not mad at the judges,” Norman said. “I just want my employees to get the same break as anywhere else.”

Norman said District Judge Tom Alford’s office is closed every Friday.

District Judge Norman Thygesen and Alford said their offices aren’t always closed when they are away.

“I require them to do their job,” Alford said of his employees. “If they’ve got work to do, they do it and do it efficiently. When I’ve got something that needs to be done, I know they’re here doing it.”

Thygesen said his employees usually are in the office when he is.

“I don’t like for them to take a vacation when I’m here,” he said. “It’s like trying to work with one hand tied behind my back. My employees know my rules, and they work very well together.”

There’s no requirement that judges’ employees work any certain schedule or 40 hours per week, said Mike Mayberry, administrative deputy director for the state court system.

“There is not a statewide policy,” Mayberry said. “Generally, it is left to the judges to control their hours of their chambers.”

He said the judges’ employees come under Oklahoma Statute 74-840-5.5, which lists offices, positions and personnel that are unclassified service: