Election Roundup: 3 Top Iowa Judges Defeated for Retention After Gay Marriage OK
In a first-time-ever rejection of sitting Iowa Supreme Court judges for retention, state voters have nixed three justices at the polls following their approval last year of same-sex marriage.
With more than 90 percent of the state’s precincts reporting results from yesterday’s election, the three had gotten only about 45 or 46 percent approval rather than the 50 percent they needed to keep their seats, reports the New York Times in an article that relies on the Associated Press for the vote tally.
Financed largely by out-of-state groups opposed to gay marriage, those who sought the judges’ ouster have sent a national message about the power of the people, a Republican leader of the campaign, Bob Vander Plaats, told a crowd of jubilant supporters at a party last night.
Signs at the event read: “No Activist Judges” and “It’s we the people, not we the courts.”
In a press release provided by KTIV, Iowa State Bar Association president Frank Carroll said before the results of the retention election were known that the ISBA is confident judges in the state “will continue to focus on the law and not allow political influence and campaign money to impact the decisions they make in resolving disputes the people of Iowa may bring before them.”
Other election news:
ABAJournal.com: “4 Chicago Election Judges Arrested; Prosecutor Sorry for Profane Voicemail in Sib’s Campaign”
Associated Press: “Judiciary Chairman John Conyers wins 24th term”
Associated Press: “Ore. Democrat Holds Senate Seat Against [Law] Professor”
Salt Lake Tribune: “East Millard County Justice Court judge voted off bench”
WFAE: “Judge Bell Wins, Three Others Ousted”
Anniston Star: “Jones hands loss to Laird”
Coloradan: “Voters clear Blair, Gilmore from judicial bench”
Wall Street Journal (opinion, sub. req.): “Ron Johnson Scores Against Senate Lawyers”
