Litigation

IA GOP Debate: Litmus Test for Would-Be Justices

By Peter Hardin

In a debate of GOP candidates running for Iowa governor, two of three candidates vowed to appoint only state Supreme Court justices who oppose gay marriage.

Both Bob Vander Plaats and Rod Roberts said their choices for the state Supreme Court would oppose abortion and gay marriage, a Des Moines Register article reported.

Vander Plaats discussed what he called a”simple” litmus test he would impose, according to Radio Iowa. ?I want Supreme Court justices to again read the Constitution before they offer an opinion,? he said. ?But more importantly Iowa needs to have a leader who will hold them in check when they don?t do that.?

Former Gov. Terry Branstad said about Vander Plaats, ?I think he?s naive when it comes to the whole appointment process.  The governor cannot ensure how a member of the Supreme Court reads the constitution.” He added,  ?It just doesn?t work that way,? and he alluded to a nominating commission that recommends candidates to the governor when a vacancy arises.

The state Supreme Court unanimously legalized same-sex marriage last year. Under the state’s merit selection system, three Iowa justices will be up for retention elections this year, and some conservatives are pressing for votes against them (see Gavel Grab).

Vander Plaats and Roberts advocated votes against keeping the three justices on the bench. Branstad said voters should decide “based on their own convictions.”

Full post as published by The Gavel on May 21, 2010 (boomark / email).