Little noticed in the carnage - 3 Iowa SC judges may have lost their seats over SSM.

[FBaggins]

Three Iowa Supreme Court justices were on pace to lose their seats Tuesday in a historic upset fueled by the 2009 decision that allowed same-sex couples to marry.

Vote totals from 84 percent of Iowa’s 1,774 precincts showed Chief Justice Marsha Ternus and Justices David Baker and Michael Streit with less than the simple majority needed to stay on the bench.

Their removal would mark the first time an Iowa Supreme Court justice has not been retained since 1962 when the merit selection and retention system was adopted. It also is expected to echo to courts throughout the country, as conservative activists had hoped.



http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2010/11/03/justices-on-pace-to-be-ousted-unofficial-results-show/

[WillParkinson]

1. Yep, use peoples fears and bigotry to get them to follow the herd...

So sad.

[laconicsax]

2. Why the fuck do people even get to vote for judges?

The judicial branch can't be insulated from public opinion if they need to win a popular vote.

[FBaggins]

3. There's never been a loss before.

And they can't vote anyone in... they can only vote someone out.

[laconicsax]

9. That doesn't change anything.

They still need to win a popular vote, making them subject to the whims of public opinion.

[ShadowLiberal]

10. Indeed, Iowa's system almost gets it right, the retention vote however is dead wrong

Iowa's system has a nonpartisan group of experts make a list of qualified candidates for the state supreme court, and the governor must pick someone from that list.

Even worse here is the fact that judicial rules barred the 3 judges from publicly defending their decision on the gay marriage case that got them voted out. How can you run for reelection without being able to explain your position on issues? None of these judges even had a campaign because of rules like that.

This decision means that without corrections Iowan's will inevitably think less of their court overtime as it gets taken over by interest groups.

[terrya]

4. This is a war we're now in, folks.

Don't even kid yourselves otherwise.

There is no other word to describe this.

[racaulk]

5. Absolutely shameful.

[One_Life_To_Give]

6. Falling tides strand all boats

Partly such a result comes from the current economic condition. When times are tough people tend to lash out more. Be it the building with the yucky paint job, the person who had to go to the hardware store at the same time as them or in this case Judges ordering a change to their narrow view of the world.

[RetiredTrotskyite]

7. Uh...

NOM started this shit. It had absolutely nothing to do with the economy. They wanted revenge for the ruling in favour of marriage equality--and in these cases they got it. This will indeed have a chilling effect on judicial impartiality.

[One_Life_To_Give]

8. Trying to put a positive spin on today

I follow you on what NOM is up to.
Just thought to grab the glass 1/8 full with if we had a Clinton Economy the vote wouldn't have been as bad.