Litigation

IA Court Candidates Interviewed Publicly

By Peter Hardin

Iowans can follow the interviews of 60 candidates for the state Supreme Court that began this week, and the initial proceedings delivered both lofty and more practical discourse.

Rebecca Saffin Parrish-Sams described herself as a “soccer mom,” and  William Talbot called himself a utility infielder who has practiced different kinds of law, according to articles in the Quad City Times and Des Moines Register.

Patrick Grady, chief judge of Iowa’s 6th Judicial Circuit, referred to voters’ ouster in November of three Supreme Court justices over the court’s unanimous decision striking down a ban on same-sex marriage.

“What happened in November was a challenge to all of us,” Judge Grady told the screening commission that is conducting interviews. “I think the people who were not retained were courageous judges.”

He also suggested that  judges “can’t afford to be a mystery any more” to the public. “When people don’t know how you operate, they get suspicious. And we all know what can happen then.”

Lawyer David Hanson urged efforts to increase public trust in the courts, according to a Radio Iowa report.

?A feature of the court that people do not understand, we speak of an independent judiciary ? and that is a good thing.? Hanson continued, ?The problem is that when people hear it, they tend to use an application of that word that doesn?t mean what we mean it as lawyers. But rather people think that you?re autonomous, unaccountable, or doing what you want to do.?

Under Iowa’s merit selection system for selecting judges, the screening commission recommends candidates to the governor for appointment.

In the wake of the marriage ruling, some critics have sought changes in the merit system. But lawyer Don McGuire defended Iowa’s system over those in states where judges are elected.

The candidate interviews were streamed online, in a effort to bring new openness to the candidate screening process. The public can also watch in person. In another response to the state court’s marriage ruling in 2009, a state House committee passed a resolution that could revoke same-sex marriage rights in Iowa.

Full post as published by The Gavel on January 25, 2011 (boomark / email).