Iowa Supremes Under Attack

For years the Iowa Supreme Court held a stellar reputation with jurists around the country. It is a non-partisan court, with a nomination/selection process, and a retention vote later. They managed to avoid the problems of politics in law that so many states experience.

Two years ago the court quietly ruled that gay marriage was not unconstitutional. Gays in the state have since been enjoying the human rights of marriage and the concurrent economic and social benefits as the rest of the population.

In the elections last November Iowa conservatives, led by Focus on the Family and the National Right to Life Committee, mounted a successful campaign to recall the 3 Justices who faced a retention vote.

The decision on that ruling was unanimous, the four remaining Supremes have become a target for removal by Iowa conservatives. There are now active impeachment moves in the legislature and suit has been filed in Federal Court challenging the method Iowa uses to install judges.

It is unlikely that state impeachment will gain much traction, however, legislative attention to the attempt will take away from urgent legislative action. James Bopp, Jr, the notorious right wing attorney (and adviser to Mitt Romney) has filed that case. The right wing in Iowa is actually small, but very vocal and large enough to control the Republican Party. The move by the right to destroy the successful nomination process may have some potential of success in a Federal Court occupied by Republican appointees.