Miscellaneous

Hawkeye Proposals

By Anne Skove, Esq.

They can be cold as the falling thermometers in February if you ask about their weather in July, but some Iowans are hoping to change the way their state justices are selected.

HJR 2012, sponsored by Rep. Rod Roberts (R), would appoint one justice from each judicial district, plus one at-large member. Justices would be required to live in their district while serving. Roberts believes this method would help answer a question he reportedly hears from constituents: Who are these people?

Meanwhile, HJR 2013, sponsored by Rep. Kent Sorenson (R), wants Iowa to elect its judges directly. Why? People are frustrated with the justices not answering to the people.

Why are all these newfangled ideas surfacing all of the sudden? Hmm...

The Iowa Bar Association opposes both bills. It could be a long fight.

And we're so by God stubborn
We can stand touching noses
For a week at a time
And never see eye-to-eye.

Full post as published by court-o-rama.org on February 10, 2010 (boomark / email).