A judge has approved a citizens' petition seeking a grand jury investigation of Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler.

Rogers County District Judge Stephen R. Pazzo Jr. signed the order Tuesday, Sept. 29, finding the petition met the legal standard for "facial sufficiency." That means it states enough to justify a grand jury inquiry, according to KJRH 2 News.

The approval does not determine guilt. Pazzo wrote in the court order that his review "does not extend to evidentiary determinations or adjudication of guilt."

Before signature collection can begin, petitioners must file an amended version within two days of the order. The court required two changes: adding the attorney's signature and verification page, and removing a paragraph that asked to seal signatories' personal information. Pazzo denied that sealing request.

Shar Agosto, lead attorney for the petitioning group Grand Jury Justice, told KJRH she is seeking "a few small changes" to the petition in response to the court's requirements.

Once the amended petition receives final court approval, organizers will have 45 days to gather 5,000 verified signatures from registered Tulsa County voters. If the Tulsa County Election Board certifies those signatures, Pazzo would then order a grand jury to convene within 30 days.

The petition lists 11 allegations of potential crimes or violations against Kunzweiler and his office, including neglect of official duty and concealment of public records. Cases cited include those involving Tulsa Little League, the Elliot Binney prosecution, the April Wilkens proceedings, the Rosario Chico prosecution and the Tulsa County Juvenile Detention Center.

Grand Jury Justice originally filed the petition Sept. 23. The case is docketed in Tulsa County District Court as Case No. GJ-26-2. A Rogers County judge was assigned to handle it.

Kunzweiler, an 11-year district attorney, is running unopposed for re-election after defeating Republican primary challenger Colleen McCarty in June. Under Oklahoma law, a sitting district attorney cannot be impeached.

After the petition was filed, the Tulsa County District Attorney's Office said in a Sept. 24 statement to KTUL that it would comply with the law and that grand juries are a part of Oklahoma's legal process. KTUL reported on Sept. 29 that it had reached out to the DA's office for comment on the approval. In a statement, the DA's office replied "as stated previously, there is a process under Oklahoma's law governing grand jury proceedings. This was one of those necessary steps in the court's administrative function."

The amended petition is due by Oct. 1. If the court gives final approval, the 45-day signature drive for 5,000 registered Tulsa County voters begins.