Judge Allows Civil Rights Suit to Proceed Against Oklahoma City Detective

In a Tuesday ruling, U.S. District Judge Bernard Jones declined to dismiss civil rights allegations targeting Oklahoma City detective Claude Shobert, who is accused of manufacturing evidence that contributed to the 1975 conviction of Glynn Simmons, the longest-served exoneree in U.S. history. Simmons, wrongfully imprisoned for almost half a century for a 1974 liquor-store murder, claims Shobert falsified the results of a February 8, 1975 police lineup and hid evidence that would have exonerated him.

Jones stated that a reasonable jury could find Shobert’s actions violated Simmons’ constitutional rights, creating a genuine factual dispute. Because the events occurred more than five decades ago and many witnesses are deceased or unable to recall details, the judge emphasized that the case must be decided by a jury after full evidence is presented. The decision follows a 10th Circuit reversal of an earlier summary-judgment ruling that had favored Shobert. Simmons previously settled with the city of Edmond and the estate of former Edmond detective Anthony Garrett for $7.15 million in 2024.