OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A state appeals court has rejected a former state senator's request to dismiss a bribery charge against her.

The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals took the action Thursday in the case of former Sen. Debbe Leftwich of Oklahoma City.

Prosecutors say Rep. Randy Terrill, a Republican, offered Leftwich, a Democrat, an $80,000-a-year job at the state Medical Examiner's Office in exchange for Leftwich not running for re-election so a Republican could vie for the seat. Terrill also faces a bribery charge.

Leftwich appealed an Oklahoma County judge's refusal to dismiss the charge. She says she is exempt from prosecution for alleged wrongdoing in the performance of her professional duties under the speech and debate clause of the Oklahoma Constitution.

The appeals court says her appeal is premature.