Litigation

IA Judicial Selection Grabs Spotlight

By Peter Hardin

Making public the applications of candidates for judgeships in Iowa could build more trust in the state judiciary, a new Iowa Court of Appeals judge said.

“My view is perhaps an addition of transparency is a good thing for the nominating process and I think one place might be to have these confidential questionnaires not be kept confidential,” Judge Mary Tabor told members of the Iowa State Bar Association, according to a Des Moines Register article.

According to an Associated Press report, “Iowa’s system for filling judicial positions has become a major issue since the removal of justices Marsha Ternus, Michael Streit and David Baker in a Nov. 2 retention vote.” They were ousted after national conservative groups funded a campaign to remove the judges in a retention election, in response to a high court opinion that permitted same-sex marriage.

Judge Tabor (in photo) said it is important that public ire not lead to fundamental changes in the state’s merit-based judicial selection system. “Now is the time to make sure our judiciary stays independent,” she said. You can read about the Iowa retention elections in Gavel Grab.

Full post as published by The Gavel on November 19, 2010 (boomark / email).