Trial date set for Oklahoma's Pardon and Parole Board

A judge has set a trial date for the five members of Oklahoma's Pardon and Parole Board.

They stand accused of violations of the state's Open Meetings Act.

Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater says they met in secret in a manner “designed to hide potentially unpopular actions ... from the citizens it serves.”

Board members Currie Ballard, Richard Dugger and Lynnell Harkins and Chairman Marc Dreyer all face 10 misdemeanors, while board member David Moore faces nine.

All five deny the charges.

Their defense attorney says Prater is prosecuting them because he's angry over their consideration of early release for a woman convicted of first-degree manslaughter in a drunk driving case.

The trial is set for November 18th.