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Thirteen of the 79 Iowa judges who are running in the November election responded to a questionnaire sent by a conservative group that asked the judges to share their views on abortion rights and other problems, the AP/WHO-TV reports (Lorentzen, AP/WHO-TV, 9/6). The five-page questionnaire was sent by the group Iowans Concerned About Judges — a coalition made up of the American Family Association, Concerned Women for America of Iowa, Focus on the Household, Iowa Christian Alliance, Iowa Loved ones Policy Center and Professional Educators of Iowa. Of the 13 who responded, many sent letters declining to answer specific questions. Chuck Hurley, president of the IFPC, stated, “The disappointment is that the responses saying that to answer would harm their impartiality doesn’t accord with all the clear U.S. Supreme Court ruling saying it would not” (Lorentzen, Associated Press, 9/6). The Supreme Court in June 2002 ruled in a 5-4 choice that Minnesota state judicial candidates have a proper to free speech throughout campaigns and may possibly openly discuss their views on problems such as abortion (Kaiser Daily Women’s Well being Policy Report, 3/24/05). Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Louis Lavorato stated, “If a judge announces a position on an issue, which the judge has every proper to do, the judge’s impartiality may be called into question, and the judge might have to decline handling instances involving that issue” (Gearino, Quad City Times, 9/6). Nancy Tabor, a judge in the state’s seventh judicial district, wrote in her response to the questionnaire that potential recusals caused by stating positions on issues “may be essential, causing delays and possible harm to litigants.” Hurley stated a number of the judges who responded “did say they are strict constructionists, which can be a good beginning for informed voters in Iowa.” The state appoints judges by a merit-based system, and state residents can vote to retain or remove a judge every eight years (Associated Press, 9/6).
“Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the whole Kaiser Everyday Wellness Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for e-mail delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Day-to-day Well being Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free of charge service with the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . ? 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family members Foundation. All rights reserved.