{{Short description|United States Attorney}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2018}} {{mi| {{POV|date=September 2025}} {{Very long|date=October 2025}}}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Steve Kunzweiler | image = Steve Kunzweiler (2025).jpeg | caption = Kunzweiler in 2025 | office = District Attorney of Tulsa County | term_start = January 2015 | term_end = | predecessor = Tim Harris | successor = | birth_place = Missouri, U.S. | birth_date = | death_place = | death_date = | party = Republican | education = University of Missouri, Columbia (BA)<br>University of Tulsa (JD) }} '''Steve Kunzweiler''' is an American politician who has served as the District Attorney for Tulsa County, Oklahoma since 2014. He is a member of the Oklahoma District Attorneys Council and the Oklahoma District Attorneys Association.
== Early life and career == Steve Kunzweiler was born in Missouri.<ref name="2026 announce" /> He started his legal career as an assistant district attorney in Osage County, Oklahoma.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former local prosecutor to run for Tulsa DA |url=https://www.examiner-enterprise.com/story/news/2013/11/28/former-local-prosecutor-to-run/27392152007/ |access-date=September 16, 2025 |work=Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise |date=November 28, 2013}}</ref> In 1992, he started working for the Nowata County and Washington County district attorneys. In 2002, he moved to the Tulsa County district attorney's office.<ref>{{cite news |title=Assistant DA makes move to Tulsa County office |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/909114516/ |access-date=September 21, 2025 |work=Tulsa World |date=January 8, 2002 |page=18 |via=Newspapers.com}} </ref> In November 2013, he announced his campaign as a Republican candidate to succeed the retiring Tulsa County district attorney, Tim Harris.<ref>{{cite news |title=Steve Kunzweiler to Run for DA |url=https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-regional/2013-11-22/steve-kunzweiler-to-run-for-da |access-date=September 16, 2025 |work=Public Radio Tulsa |date=November 22, 2013 |language=en}}</ref>
== Tulsa County District Attorney == During the 2014 primary campaign, Kunzweiler challenged his opponent Fred Jordan's candidacy, arguing he was ineligible to serve as district attorney because he voted for pay increases for district attorneys while in the Oklahoma Legislature. The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled Jordan was eligible to hold the office.<ref>{{Cite news |title=State Lawmaker Is Eligible For District Attorney Job, Court Rules |work=KGOU |agency=Associated Press |date=July 25, 2014 |url=https://www.kgou.org/oklahoma-news/2014-07-25/state-lawmaker-is-eligible-for-district-attorney-job-court-rules |access-date=September 26, 2025}}</ref> He defeated Jordan in the runoff election, and since no Democratic candidate filed for the office, he won the election.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kunzweiler wins Tulsa County district attorney's seat |url=https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_e4c0d065-4371-51c4-85d9-263754483d9e.html |access-date=September 16, 2025 |work=Tulsa World |date=August 26, 2014 |language=en}}</ref>
===First term and reelection=== In May 2015, Kunzweiler filed felony second-degree manslaughter charges against Robert Bates for the killing of Eric Harris.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tulsaworld.com/news/crimewatch/reserve-deputy-charged-with-manslaughter-turns-himself-in-at-tulsa/article_883e0747-46e9-595d-9c4f-e1cb4fdabbf4.html |title=Reserve deputy charged with manslaughter turns himself in at Tulsa Jail |newspaper=Tulsa World |date=April 14, 2015 |access-date=2015-05-02}}</ref> On April 28, 2016, Bates was found guilty.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ellis |first1=Ralph |last2=Lett |first2=Sara |title=Ex-Oklahoma deputy Robert Bates guilty of killing unarmed suspect |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/04/27/us/tulsa-deputy-manslaughter-trial/ |access-date=28 April 2016 |work=CNN |date=28 April 2016}}</ref>
In 2016, he filed felony first degree manslaughter charges against Betty Shelby for the killing of Terence Crutcher.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hardzinski |first1=Brian |title=Tulsa Officer Charged With Shooting Terence Crutcher Surrenders, Released On Bond |url=https://www.kosu.org/local-news/2016-09-23/tulsa-officer-charged-with-shooting-terence-crutcher-surrenders-released-on-bond |access-date=September 25, 2025 |work=KOSU |date=September 23, 2016 |language=en}}</ref> On May 17, 2017, a jury found Shelby not guilty.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/17/us/tulsa-police-shooting-trial/index.html|title=Tulsa cop not guilty in fatal shooting of unarmed black man|last1=Levenson|first1=Eric|last2=Gamble|first2=Justin|date=May 17, 2017|website=CNN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170518010847/http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/17/us/tulsa-police-shooting-trial/index.html|archive-date=May 18, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=May 18, 2017}}</ref>
Shannon Kepler killed Jeremey Lake, his daughter's boyfriend, in 2014. Kunzweiler's office prosecuted Kepler four times, with the first three trials ending in mistrial. In October 2017, Kepler was found guilty of manslaughter.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Juozapavicius |first1=Justin |title=Prosecutor grateful for verdict in ex-cop's 4th murder trial |url=https://www.theledger.com/story/news/crime/2017/10/19/prosecutor-grateful-for-verdict-in-ex-cops-4th-murder-trial/18256731007/ |access-date=September 26, 2025 |work=The Ledger |date=October 19, 2017}}</ref>
In 2018, Kunzweiler was the prosecutor during the Bever family murders trial.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Slanchik |first1=Amy |title=Bever Murder Trial To Continue Into Week Three |url=https://www.news9.com/story/5e35b4df777a5668671be243/bever-murder-trial-to-continue-into-week-three |access-date=September 25, 2025 |work=News 9 Now and News on 6 Now |date=April 29, 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
In 2018, Kunzweiler ran for reelection and was challenged by Democratic candidate Jenny Proehl-Day. He won the November election.<ref name="2018 reelection">{{cite news |last1=Goforth |first1=Dylan |title=Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler wins second term |url=https://www.readfrontier.org/stories/tulsa-county-district-attorney-steve-kunzweiler-wins-second-term/ |access-date=September 25, 2025 |work=The Frontier |date=November 6, 2018}}</ref>
===Second term=== In 2020, Kunzweiler declined to file charges against Black Lives Matter protestors who painted "Black Lives Matter" on a Tulsa street, instead referring the case to the Tulsa city attorney's office.<ref>{{Cite news |title=District attorney declines charges against 'Black Lives Matter' protestors |work=KRGM |url=https://www.krmg.com/news/local/district-attorney-declines-charges-against-black-lives-matter-protestors/GJVCH6JYVVFCXLVJTAJRTBJD5I/}}</ref> Later that year, Kunzweiler defended former district attorney Tim Harris's work after Harris was accused of coercing Corey Atchison into a confession.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rosenberg |first=Eli |date=16 July 2019 |title=Two brothers were wrongly convicted of separate murders. Now they are reunited as free men. |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/07/17/two-brothers-were-wrongfully-convicted-separate-murders-now-they-are-reunited-free-men/}}</ref> Atchison's sentence was later overturned by Tulsa County District Judge Sharon Holmes.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Corey Atchison's attorney issues statement in response to Tim Harris, Steve Kunzweiler comments |work=2 News Oklahoma |url=https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/corey-atchisons-attorney-issues-statement-in-response-to-tim-harris-steve-kunzweiler-comments}}</ref>
In 2021, Kunzweiler refused to charge the man who drove into Black Live Matter protestors and caused a man to fall from Interstate 244. The 32-year-old was paralyzed from the waist down.<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 January 2021 |title=D.A. STEVE KUNZWEILER WILL NOT CHARGE MAN WHO DROVE INTO BLM PROTESTERS |work=The Black Wall Street Times |url=https://theblackwallsttimes.com/2020/07/26/d-a-steve-kunzweiler-will-not-charge-man-who-drove-into-blm-protesters/}}</ref> Afterward, he did not endorse legislation that would have given blanket immunity to drivers who hit protesters or that would have increased penalties for protestors.<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 February 2021 |title=Proposed Legislation Would Protect Oklahoma Drivers Who Hit Protestors |work=Public Radio Tulsa |url=https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-regional/2021-02-22/proposed-legislation-would-protect-oklahoma-drivers-who-hit-protestors}}</ref>
In 2021, Kunzweiler criticized the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board, arguing the board should be more conservative in their consideration of paroles and commutations.<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 December 2021 |title=Stitt expresses confidence in Pardon and Parole Board |work=Tulsa World |url=https://tulsaworld.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/stitt-expresses-confidence-in-pardon-and-parole-board/article_a4bba9e0-52de-11ec-b0d6-efa4acfddac7.html}}</ref>
In 2021, Kunzweiler claimed responsibility for a public censure of one of his assistants from the Oklahoma Bar Association after his offices' interns practiced law in criminal cases without being licensed.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Tulsa County assistant prosecutor censured after interns found practicing law; justices place blame with DA, first assistant |work=Tulsa World |url=https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/tulsa-county-assistant-prosecutor-censured-after-interns-found-practicing-law-justices-place-blame-with-da/article_7f85d4ac-5bae-11eb-a022-bfc675a2e093.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122210028/https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/tulsa-county-assistant-prosecutor-censured-after-interns-found-practicing-law-justices-place-blame-with-da/article_7f85d4ac-5bae-11eb-a022-bfc675a2e093.html |archive-date=22 January 2021 }}</ref>
===Third term=== In 2022, Kunzweiler's office wrote a letter to the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board protesting April Rose Wilkens's application for parole. VNN speculated that the board did not grant her a hearing this period at least in part due to the protest letter.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 22, 2022 |title=#AprilsStory The Lone Crusaders |url=https://app.verifiednews.network/articles/share/2261 |work=Verified News Network |access-date=October 1, 2025 |last=Harlow |first=Brittany}}</ref>
In 2023, David Guten was the judge on the custody child-stealing case for Rosario Chico, where he "initially recused himself from the case but then reinserted himself" and it was alleged that Kunzweiler contributed to Guten’s election campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eagle |first=Staff, The Oklahoma |date=2023-10-05 |title=Victims Allege Corruption In Tulsa Criminal Justice System |url=https://theokeagle.com/2023/10/05/victims-allege-corruption-in-tulsa-criminal-justice-system/ |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=The Oklahoma Eagle |language=en-US}}</ref> An injunction was issued against Kunzweiler regarding a petition on this case.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Manchen |first=Stef |date=2024-12-19 |title=Injunction filed against Tulsa DA claims he's interfering with DHS petition |url=https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/injunction-filed-against-tulsa-da-claims-hes-interfering-with-dhs-petition |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=2 News Oklahoma KJRH Tulsa |language=en}}</ref>
In 2024, he was invited by Kevin Hern as his guest to attend President Joe Biden's State of the Union.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-08 |title=Tulsa County DA Steve Kunzweiler attends State of the Union |url=https://www.krmg.com/news/local/tulsa-county-da-steve-kunzweiler-attend-state-union/PEKSVAYWEBG4LGSXTGBEIUTNHQ/ |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=102.3 KRMG |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-07 |title=Hern to bring Tulsa County DA as guest to the State of the Union |url=https://hern.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=897 |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=U.S. Representative Kevin Hern |language=en}}</ref> He was invited because of his correlation to fentanyl overdoses, blaming immigration happening through the U.S. and Mexico border.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dobberstein |first=John |date=2024-03-07 |title=Hern's guest at Biden's SOTU will be Tulsa County DA |url=https://basentinel.com/herns-guest-at-bidens-sotu-will-be-tulsa-county-da/ |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=Broken Arrow Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref>
After President Joe Biden released a statement on the death of Nex Benedict in February 2024, Kunzweilers' office initially declined to comment on their investigation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=President Biden on Nex Benedict's death: 'No one should face the bullying that Nex did' |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2024/03/14/joe-biden-statement-nex-benedict-death-owasso-ok/72975096007/ |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-22 |title=A nonbinary student's death after a high school fight has been ruled a suicide. Here's what to know |url=https://apnews.com/article/nonbinary-student-death-nex-owasso-oklahoma-1e07834d6aad2475a8f744974d66e765 |access-date=2025-09-25 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> On March 21, his office announced no criminal charges would be filed for Benedict's death, which Kunzweiler called "an instance of mutual combat."<ref>{{Cite web|title=No charges to be filed in fight involving Oklahoma nonbinary teen Nex Benedict|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/no-charges-to-be-filed-in-fight-involving-oklahoma-nonbinary-teen-nex-benedict |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=PBS NewsHour |date=March 21, 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Sean |date=2024-03-21 |title=No charges to be filed in fight involving Oklahoma nonbinary teen Nex Benedict, prosecutor says |url=https://apnews.com/article/nex-benedict-owasso-suicide-nonbinary-charges-0667b5a694c2773d6ea76face0a22ef1 |access-date=2025-09-25 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>
In 2024, Kunzweiler supported Kevin West's HB 3694 bill that would undo 2016 state question voted on by the people. It was also authored by Julie Daniels and John George.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bill Information |url=http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb3694&Session=2400 |access-date=2024-03-14 |website=www.oklegislature.gov}}</ref> It "would revert the minimum value of goods stolen to qualify as a felony larceny back down from $1,000 to just $500." The bill was criticized by Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform Executive Director Damion Shade.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-12 |title=Bill on penalizing larceny would undo 2016 state question |url=https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/bill-on-penalizing-larceny-would-undo-2016-state-question |access-date=2024-03-14 |website=2 News Oklahoma KJRH Tulsa |language=en}}</ref> This is a SQ 780 rollback that would increase incarceration and essentially set the bar back to where the voters raised it in 2016." A representative of the organization Oklahoma Appleseed called it one of their "Bad Bills."<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCarty |first=Colleen |date=2024-03-07 |title=Opinion: Keeping track of good and bad criminal justice bills proposed by Oklahoma lawmakers |url=https://tulsaworld.com/opinion/column/opinion-keeping-track-of-good-and-bad-criminal-justice-bills-proposed-by-oklahoma-lawmakers/article_3fc6837c-db56-11ee-8aeb-83b6cb360ed8.html |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=Tulsa World |language=en}}</ref>
Henry Jamerson, a man sentenced to 34 years who only served 24 and was later exonerated,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Goforth |first=Dylan |date=July 9, 2024 |title=Tulsa judge tosses rape conviction after man's three-decade quest to prove his innocence |url=https://www.readfrontier.org/stories/tulsa-judge-tosses-rape-conviction-after-mans-three-decade-quest-to-prove-his-innocence/ |access-date=2025-04-26 |work=The Frontier |language=en-US}}</ref> accused the Tulsa Police and the District Attorneys office of a decades-long coverup scheme in a 2025 lawsuit.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-18 |title=Man who served 24-year sentence on wrongful conviction sues city, DA |url=https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-regional/2025-04-18/man-who-served-24-year-sentence-on-wrongful-conviction-sues-city-da |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=Public Radio Tulsa |language=en}}</ref> Kunzweiler is appealing Jamerson's overturned conviction,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-15 |title=Wrongful conviction lawsuit claims TPD, DA in decades-long coverup scheme |url=https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/wrongful-conviction-lawsuit-claims-tpd-da-in-decades-long-coverup-scheme |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=2 News Oklahoma KJRH Tulsa |language=en}}</ref> even though the woman who accused Jamerson of rape recanted, saying that "police decades ago convinced her to identify Jamerson as her rapist even though she'd never seen him before." She now "formally supported the legal move to get Jamerson off the Oklahoma sex offender registry."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-13 |title=Fight 'to the end': Woman instrumental in wrongful conviction of Tulsa man advocates for him in court |url=https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/2024-11-13/fight-to-the-end-woman-instrumental-in-wrongful-conviction-of-tulsa-man-advocates-for-him-in-court |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=Public Radio Tulsa |language=en}}</ref> The court of criminal appeals upheld Judge David Guten's ruling to overturn Jamerson's convictions in September 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=World |first=Curtis Killman Tulsa |date=2025-09-23 |title=DA's appeal shot down after Tulsa man's rape conviction overturned |url=https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_066f31c6-3670-45ff-959b-d336e6a06f7e.html |access-date=2025-09-25 |website=Tulsa World |language=en}}</ref>
In 2025, Kunzweiler sought to remove Tulsa Judge Holmes from the Tajon Figures case. In a motion, he argued she "has shown questionable behavior in two other cases where she held private audiences with the defendant in one case and with jurors in the other." He claimed "improper communications and behaviors that contradict the Code of Judicial Conduct."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=FOX23 com News |date=2025-11-05 |title=Tulsa County judge declined to recuse herself from murder case |url=https://www.fox23.com/news/tulsa-county-judge-declined-to-recuse-herself-from-murder-case/article_3a4b81df-a3ac-4b9e-85b6-35a6869f54db.html |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=www.fox23.com |language=en}}</ref> Kunzweiler wanted Holmes to be "reassigned away from handling all criminal cases," but did not get Holmes to recuse herself from the Figures case. Kunzweiler did not like the personal thank-you letter Holmes received in one case that was not shared with attorneys and a personal meeting with defendant in her chambers in another. Brian Boheim, an attorney on some of these cases, defended Holmes, saying that Kunzweiler is "dramatically misrepresenting what happened" and claiming that Kunzweiler wants to remove her politically, even though she is an elected official.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-04 |title=Tulsa County DA seeks judge's removal from murder case |url=https://www.newson6.com/tulsa-oklahoma-news/tulsa-county-da-seeks-judges-removal-from-murder-case |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=Newson6.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
===2026 reelection campaign=== In November 2025, he announced his intent to run for a fourth term in 2026, getting endorsements from Tulsa County Commissioner Kelly Dunkerley and Senator Christi Gillespie.<ref name="2026 announce">{{Cite news|last=Krehbiel |first=Randy |date=November 20, 2025 |title=Kunzweiler campaigning for fourth term as district attorney |url=https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/government-politics/elections/article_5bb324df-af27-41bf-a209-97f1f30b0c85.html |access-date=November 21, 2025 |publisher=Tulsa World |language=en}}</ref> He faces a primary challenge from attorney Colleen McCarty in June 2026.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Loveless |first1=Tristan |title=DA races: 23 of 27 district attorneys elected by default, Democrat wins rural post |url=https://nondoc.com/2026/04/03/da-races-23-of-27-district-attorneys-elected-by-default-democrat-wins-rural-post/ |access-date=April 5, 2026 |work=NonDoc |date=April 4, 2026}}</ref>
==Political positions== === Female defendants === On failure to protect laws, Kunzweiler said he viewed himself as a father punishing his daughters and that '"prosecutor's job was to 'teach people the morals they either never learned or they somehow forgot.'"<ref>{{Cite news |last=MICHAELS |first=SAMANTHA |date=2022 |title=MICHAELS |work=Mother Jones |url=https://www.motherjones.com/crime-justice/2022/08/failure-to-protect-domestic-abuse-child-oklahoma-women-inequality-prison/}}</ref> He has explained female incarceration "using a metaphor about spanking."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stillman |first=Sarah |date=29 October 2018 |title=America's Other Family-Separation Crisis |work=New Yorker |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/11/05/americas-other-family-separation-crisis}}</ref>
=== McGirt v. Oklahoma and Tribal Sovereignty === In 2021, Kunzweiler said that the ruling on McGirt "isn't just a criminal matter but can also affect businesses."<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 March 2021 |title=Tulsa County DA holds town hall to discuss concerns related to McGirt ruling |work=2 News Oklahoma |url=https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/tulsa-county-da-holds-town-hall-to-discuss-concerns-related-to-mcgirt-ruling}}</ref> Kunzweiler and Governor Stitt’s office organized a forum on McGirt claiming it "was designed to inform the public about the implications of the McGirt decision." However, "Native American activists and attorneys have accused Stitt and prosecutors of trying to stir up public sentiment against the" McGIrt decision and most of the prosecutors on the panel "were subjected to questions about why tribal leaders or their attorneys general were not among the panelists."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-14 |title=McGirt forum shut down early due to backlash from audience |url=https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-us-supreme-court-d6f650b91cab33b667fbc99bcfcfb8c7 |access-date=2025-09-25 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> Kunzweiler "said his office is also experiencing a significant increase in the number of criminal defendants who are seeking post-conviction relief as a result of the court’s ruling."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-11 |title=US attorney experiencing 'tidal wave' of cases after ruling |url=https://apnews.com/article/ok-state-wire-tulsa-oklahoma-crime-u-s-supreme-court-29956a373e7f92f749334e6fdac16469 |access-date=2025-09-25 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>
In 2024, Kunzweiler supported the cross-deputization of police officers with tribal police to avoid confusion about who has jurisdiction.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ICYMI: Cross-deputization means nontribal police can arrest Native suspects - The Muscogee Nation :The Muscogee Nation |url=https://www.muscogeenation.com/2024/03/15/icymi-cross-deputization-means-nontribal-police-can-arrest-native-suspects/ |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=www.muscogeenation.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2025 the Muscogee Nation "sought to prevent Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler from prosecuting non-member Indians in Tulsa County District Court," but Federal District Court Judge Gregory Frizzell ruled against the injunction. Kunzweiler said he was glad that the court recognized "the authority of district attorneys to pursue justice in every county preserves the rule of law and protects victims across the state."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Loveless |first=Tristan |date=2025-11-07 |title=Federal court denies preliminary injunction in Muscogee Nation case v. Tulsa DA |url=https://nondoc.com/2025/11/07/federal-court-denies-preliminary-injunction-in-muscogee-nation-case-v-tulsa-da/ |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=NonDoc |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Oklahoma Survivors Act=== Three weeks after the Oklahoma Survivor's Act (OSA) passed,<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Barajas |first1=Michael |last2=Law |first2=Victoria |date=2024-05-24 |title=Oklahoma Gives Incarcerated Survivors of Domestic Violence a New Chance at Freedom |url=https://boltsmag.org/oklahoma-survivors-act/ |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=Bolts |language=en}}</ref> Kunzweiler's office came under scrutiny for creating a waiver that would cause abuse victims to waive away their rights under the new law. This upset domestic violence advocates, including the CEO of the YWCA in Oklahoma City.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-18 |title=Oklahoma Prosecutors Consider Plan That Would 'Prey' On Domestic Violence Survivors |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tulsa-county-district-attorney-oklahoma-survivors-act_n_66eb2640e4b00648275ba784 |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=World |first=Curtis Killman Tulsa |date=2024-09-20 |title=Tulsa DA Kunzweiler defends plan for handling Oklahoma Survivors' Act cases |url=https://tulsaworld.com/news/article_3ad5cfde-7792-11ef-ae94-4f27d61969e9.html |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=Tulsa World |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-22 |title=Kunzweiler clarifies Survivors' Act views after legal form surfaces |url=https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-regional/2024-09-22/kunzweiler-clarifies-survivors-act-views-after-legal-form-surfaces |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=Public Radio Tulsa |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Brenna |date=2024-09-17 |title=Advocates denounce Tulsa County DA plea policy as harmful to domestic abuse survivors |url=https://ktul.com/news/local/tulsa-county-da |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=KTUL |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=FJP Statement on Tulsa DA's Attempts to Circumvent the Oklahoma Survivors' Act |url=https://fairandjustprosecution.org/press-releases/fjp-statement-on-tulsa-das-attempts-to-circumvent-the-oklahoma-survivors-act/ |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=Fair and Just Prosecution |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Coalition |first=OK Survivor Justice |title=OK Survivor Justice Coalition |url=https://oksurvivorjusticecoalition.org/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250319093615/https://oksurvivorjusticecoalition.org/ |archive-date=March 19, 2025 |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=OK Survivor Justice Coalition |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoberock |first=Barbara |date=2024-09-18 |title=Oklahoma prosecutor accused of undermining abuse victims charged with crimes • Oklahoma Voice |url=https://oklahomavoice.com/2024/09/18/oklahoma-prosecutor-accused-of-undermining-abuse-victims-charged-with-crimes/ |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=Oklahoma Voice |language=en-US}}</ref> They accused him of "forcing domestic violence victims charged with crimes to give up their rights if they want plea agreements."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoberock |first=Barbara |title=Oklahoma prosecutor accused of undermining abuse victims charged with crimes |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2024/09/19/tulsa-county-stephen-kunzweiler-accused-undermining-abuse-victims-oklahoma-survivors-act/75291289007/ |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}}</ref> Kunzweiler defended the form, saying that similar forms are used in other types of cases.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Media |first=Griffin |title=District Attorney Kunzweiler Responds To Claims That He Is Strong-Arming Victims To Give Up Rights Under New Law |url=https://www.newson6.com/story/66f1ed65cb18a8df8ef25cb2/district-attorney-kunzweiler-responds-to-claims-that-he-is-strong-arming-victims-to-give-up-rights-under-new-law |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=www.newson6.com |date=September 23, 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
Tulsa’s "largest non-profit organization dedicated to domestic violence," Domestic Violence and Intervention Services (DVIS), spoke out against Kunzweiler and ADA Meghan Hilborn's handling of all Oklahoma Survivors Act cases in Tulsa.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Christy |first=Erin |date=2025-09-08 |title=DVIS critical of Tulsa DA's handling of Survivors' Act cases |url=https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/dvis-critical-of-tulsa-das-handling-of-survivors-act-cases |access-date=2025-09-11 |website=2 News Oklahoma KJRH Tulsa |language=en}}</ref> In a statement, DVIS denounced judge David Guten and Kunzweiler, urging constituents to vote them out.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Joslin |first=Brenna Rose, Sierra |date=2025-09-08 |title=DV Intervention Services denounces court's denial of April Wilkens' resentencing |url=https://ktul.com/news/local/dv-intervention-services-denounces-courts-denial-of-april-wilkens-resentencing-domestic-violence-statement-legal-team-evidence-oklahoma-survivors-act-law-legislation-interview-camera |access-date=2025-09-11 |website=KTUL |language=en}}</ref> The CEO of Bama Pies wrote an opinion piece in the Tulsa World, claiming that Kunzweiler "stood in that courtroom [during the hearing for April Wilkens] and declared that people who use drugs aren’t victims. That people living with mental illness aren’t victims. That survivors whose lives are messy, complicated or imperfect somehow forfeit their right to be believed."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-21 |title=Paula Marshall: I don't feel safe in this community after witnessing April Wilkens' hearing |url=https://tulsaworld.com/opinion/column/article_ebd48548-636e-4fc5-915a-5f060566bb42.html |access-date=2025-09-21 |website=Tulsa World |language=en}}</ref> The CEO of DVIS said that the DAs have "discretion" in choosing what to fight and questioned why Kunzweiler was spending state resources against Tulsa women who are not threats to society.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnhHCQE8IGQ |title=NewsChannel 8 Interview with Tracey Lyall, CEO of Domestic Violence Intervention Services |date=2025-09-08 |last=Tulsa's NewsChannel 8 |access-date=2025-09-11 |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=FOX23 com News |date=2025-09-08 |title=DVIS condemns judges' ruling denying resentencing for April Wilkens |url=https://www.fox23.com/news/dvis-condemns-judges-ruling-denying-resentencing-for-april-wilkens/article_08950f75-8271-4f52-a785-37505a6eced5.html |access-date=2025-09-11 |website=www.fox23.com |language=en}}</ref> He later said that he supported the act<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoberock |first=Barbara |date=2025-10-13 |title=Law may need 'tweaking' after Oklahoma inmate files for sentencing relief, officials say • Oklahoma Voice |url=https://oklahomavoice.com/2025/10/13/law-may-need-tweaking-after-oklahoma-inmate-files-for-sentencing-relief-officials-say/ |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=Oklahoma Voice |language=en-US}}</ref> and believed there would be some "occasions" where domestic violence would be proven or demonstrated as the cause for the crime.<ref name=":1">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_0b-9VQPcU |title=In Depth: Tulsa County DA Steve Kunzweiler discusses recent cases |date=2025-09-23 |last=FOX23 News Tulsa |access-date=2025-09-25 |via=YouTube}}</ref> Advocates in Tulsa questioned his use of taxpayer dollars, calling for him to be voted out in a rally. His response was that he had to follow Marsy's Law and the legislature should have passed funding along with the Act so he could fight OSA cases more easily.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Santiago |first=Cristina |date=2025-10-05 |title=Tulsans rally in support of domestic violence survivors |url=https://ktul.com/news/local/tulsans-rally-in-support-of-domestic-violence-survivors-april-wilkens-steve-kunzweiler |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=KTUL |language=en}}</ref> Oklahoma District Attorneys Association (or ODAA), which Kunzweiler is a member of, applauded Governor Kevin Stitt's initial veto of an iteration of the OSA.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-04-24 |title=Governor vetoes 'Survivors Act' for domestic violence victims |url=https://kfor.com/news/local/governor-vetoes-survivors-act-for-domestic-violence-victims/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250903194906/https://kfor.com/news/local/governor-vetoes-survivors-act-for-domestic-violence-victims/ |archive-date=2025-09-03 |access-date=2025-10-14 |work=KFOR.com Oklahoma City |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Journal Record |date=2019-10-23 |title=ODAA selects leadership |url=https://journalrecord.com/2019/10/22/odaa-selects-leadership/ |access-date=2025-10-14 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bryan |first=Max |date=2024-09-22 |title=Kunzweiler clarifies Survivors' Act views after legal form surfaces |url=https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-regional/2024-09-22/kunzweiler-clarifies-survivors-act-views-after-legal-form-surfaces |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=Public Radio Tulsa |language=en}}</ref>
=== Animal Rights === In 2023, Kunzweiler spoke out against Justin Humphrey and the Oklahoma Gamefowl Commission's attempts to legalize cockfighting in the state, saying he wanted it to remain a felony.<ref>{{Cite web |last=staff |first=Sunny Leigh, KTUL |date=2023-04-14 |title=Bill to reduce penalties for animal fighting shut down in Oklahoma Senate |url=https://ktul.com/news/local/bill-to-reduce-penalties-for-animal-fighting-shut-down-in-oklahoma-senate-cockfighting-chicken-fighting-dogfighting-humphrey-kunzweiler-humane-society-animal-wellness-gamefowl-lawmakers |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=KTUL |language=en}}</ref>
==Personal life== Kunzweiler and his wife have three daughters. In September 2022, a daughter with mental illness stabbed Kunzweiler multiple times, but he survived.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler stabbed; daughter arrested |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/tulsa-county-district-attorney-steve-kunzweiler-stabbed-daughter-arrested/ar-AA12jYFU |date=2022-09-28 |first=Jana |last=Hayes |website=MSN |language=en-US}}</ref>
He is Catholic.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_0b-9VQPcU |title=In Depth: Tulsa County DA Steve Kunzweiler discusses recent cases |date=2025-09-23 |last=FOX23 News Tulsa |access-date=2025-09-24 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
==See also== * List of district attorneys by county * Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kunzweiler, Steve}} Category:21st-century American lawyers Category:Catholic politicians from Oklahoma Category:Lawyers from Tulsa, Oklahoma Category:Living people Category:Politicians from Tulsa, Oklahoma Category:Tulsa County district attorneys Category:Year of birth missing (living people)