At least three Iowa House Republicans are holding up a bill that would give the people of Iowa more say in how the state selects it Supreme Court justices. The Iowa Standard has learned Representatives Ann Meyer (R-Fort Dodge), David Maxwell (R-Gibson) and Gary Mohr (R-Bettendorf) have been reluctant to support the change.
Meyer said at a forum she prefers the current nonpartisan method of picking judges. Maxwell told an audience at a legislative forum the bill to change the judicial selection process didn’t have a future in the House. Mohr also said at a legislative forum that he’s not supporting the bill.
Changing the process is a top priority for Governor Kim Reynolds.
Iowans who want to contact their legislator and encourage them to support changing the nominating process can do so here.
You can read more about the proposal at the following links:
Sen. Charles Schneider writes about the issue here.
Vanderbilt Law Professor Brian Fitzpatrick discusses the idea here.
Coverage of the bill passing through the Iowa Senate here.
Video of a debate between Fitzpatrick and the president of the Iowa Bar Association here.
Objections Rep. Sandy Salmon hears on the judicial nominating process change here.
The need for the change here.
