Posts Tagged ‘Iowa Supreme Court’

Chief Justice Cady Addresses Legislature

Today, Chief Justice Mark Cady delivered the annual State of the Judiciary to a joint session of the Iowa House and Senate. Justice Cady is serving as the interim chief justice until new justices are appointed to fill three vacancies currently on the court. The Chief Justice focused on Iowans access to the judicial system and on challenges faced by the judicial branch because of the current political climate.

“Unlike our political institutions, courts serve the law, not the interests of constituents. Courts serve the law, not the demands of special interest groups. Courts serve the law, not the electorate’s reaction to a particular decision. By serving the rule of law, courts protect the civil, political, economic, and social rights of all citizens. Chief Justice William Rehnquist called the independence that allows judges to serve the law “the crown jewel of our system of justice.”

Read full text of Chief Justice Cady’s address here.

Pictured is Representative Dan Kelley of Newton with Chief Justice Cady before the State of Judiciary

Tags: Chief Justice Cady, Condition of the Courts, dan kelley, Iowa Supreme Court, Mark S. Cady
Category Featured, Public Safety, Recent News, Uncategorized |

Chief Justice Delivers Condition of the Judiciary

Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court Marsha Ternus delivered the 2010 condition of the judiciary address in the house chambers on January 13th.

Click here to listen to the address.

Click here to view full text of the address.

Tags: Condition of Judiciary, Iowa Supreme Court, Marsha Ternus
Category Public Safety |

Courts Outline Budget Cuts

The Iowa Supreme Court announced their budget saving plan for Fiscal Year 2010 (which begins on July 1). Since the national recession has weakened state revenues over the last 12 months, the courts are reducing expenses by $5.4 million next year. Earlier this month, legislators outlined their plan to reduce the Legislature’s budget by 10% next year.

Here’s the release from the Iowa Supreme Court:

Budget Ax Continues to Hit Iowa Courts
Contact: Rebecca Colton, Counsel to the Chief Justice, (515)281-8205

Des Moines, June 25, 2009 – Today, the Iowa Supreme Court announced another round of cost cutting for the state’s court system-the second round of cuts since January. This latest round of cuts is necessary to balance the Judicial Branch budget for Fiscal Year 2010, which begins July 1. (more…)

Tags: Fiscal Responsibility, Iowa Budget, iowa finances, Iowa Supreme Court
Category Budget |

Supreme Court Overturns Same Sex Marriage Ban

In a unanimous ruling, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled today Iowa’s law defining marriage is unconstitutional.  Read the full ruling here.  Here is part of the court’s statement:

“We are firmly convinced the exclusion of gay and lesbian people from the institution of civil marriage does not substantially further any important governmental objective. The legislature has excluded a historically disfavored class of persons from a supremely important civil institution without a constitutionally sufficient justification. There is no material fact, genuinely in dispute, that can affect this determination. We have a constitutional duty to ensure equal protection of the law. Faithfulness to that duty requires us to hold Iowa’s marriage statute, Iowa Code section 595.2, violates the Iowa Constitution. To decide otherwise would be an abdication of our constitutional duty. If gay and lesbian people must submit to different treatment without an exceedingly persuasive justification, they are deprived of the benefits of the principle of equal protection upon which the rule of law is founded. Iowa Code section 595.2 denies gay and lesbian people the equal protection of the law promised by the Iowa Constitution.”

Tags: constitutional amendment, Gay marriage, iowa gay marriage, iowa marriage ban, Iowa Supreme Court, same sex marriage
Category Uncategorized |