Vander Plaats Wants Four Remaining Iowa Justices Who Legalized Gay Marriage To Resign

From the Chicago Tribune and Alliance Defense Fund:

Vander Plaats wants 4 Iowa justices to resign



9:45 p.m. CST, December 7, 2010


PLEASANT HILL, Iowa — Bob Vander Plaats, who led the effort to oust three Iowa Supreme Court justices in last month's election because of a ruling that legalized gay marriage in Iowa, called Tuesday for the remaining four justices who took part in that unanimous decision to step down.



"The people have spoken and demanded a change in the leadership," Vander Plaats said during a news conference in Pleasant Hill, near Des Moines.



The Gazette of Cedar Rapids reported Vander Plaats said the action is required because the integrity and credibility of the current court has been called into question by the outcome of the Nov. 2 election.



Voters removed Chief Justice Marsha Ternus and justices Michael Streit and David Baker. Current justices not up for retention this year are Mark Cady, named interim chief justice, along with Brent Appel, Daryl Hecht and David Wiggins.







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Vander Plaats said the resignations should be done in a "timely fashion" and in such a way to keep a three-member quorum in place to keep the Supreme Court functioning during the transition.



Steve Davis, spokesman for the Iowa Judicial Branch, told The Gazette that the court "chooses not to respond" to Vander Plaats' comments.



Vander Plaats, a Sioux City businessman and former GOP candidate for governor, said all seven justices were part of the gay marriage ruling in 2009.



"We voted three off because they were the only ones on the ballot. Had the other four been on the ballot, they would have been voted off as well," he said.



The Judicial Nominating Commission will offer potential replacements for the three vacancies on the bench.



Vander Plaats applauded statements that Republican Gov.-elect Terry Branstad made to reporters this week indicating he would look for candidates with "more judicial restraint."



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Information from: The Gazette, http://www.gazetteonline.com/





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