The Iowa judicial elections will consisted of a general election on November 6th. The candidate filing period was from July 30th to August 17th for state offices and August 6th to 29th for county offices.[1]
Iowa judicial elections summary, 2012
|
| |
Supreme |
Appellate |
Trial |
| Total candidates |
4 |
3 |
67 |
| Unopposed candidates |
0 |
|
|
| Judges facing retention |
4 |
3 |
67 |
| Judges retained |
4 |
3 |
67 |
| Judges re-elected |
|
|
|
| Judges not re-elected |
|
|
|
| New judges elected |
|
|
|
| Partisan or Nonpartisan |
|
Retention |
|
|
Supreme Court
Justices Mansfield, Waterman and Zager are standing for their first retention in office following appointment in 2011, while Justice Wiggins is standing for retention for the second time.
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.
Court of Appeals
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.
District Courts
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.
To organize the columns, click on the arrows in the column heading.
In the News
Iowa Supreme Court retentions
As featured in JP Election Brief: The Supreme Court Special on October 18, 2012.
There are seven justices on the Iowa Supreme Court. In 2012, four justices are standing for retention, all except for Wiggins were appointed by Gov. Terry Branstad. Wiggins was appointed by Gov. Tom Vilsack.
This retention election may show a shift in public sentiment, if votes follow polling. A recent survey found 600 registered Iowa voters were in favor of retaining the justices standing for retention.[1] However, just two years ago, three justices became the first to ever be defeated for retention in the state's history after a controversial gay marriage decision. Voters may show a change in views, and support, come election day when casting ballots for the Iowa Supreme Court.
Iowa Supreme Court drama reminiscent of 2010
As featured in JP Election Brief: Retentions, retirements and ratings on September 20, 2012.
Iowa: Though a new poll of 600 likely voters shows that the justices up for retention this year are likely to be confirmed, the campaign to unseat Supreme Court justice David Wiggins is well underway.
Groups both for and against Wiggins are campaigning hard, and the fight is likely to continue up until election day.[2][3][4][5] Wiggins is the final remaining judge on the Supreme Court who voted in favor of legalizing same sex marriage. The other three justices who did so, David Baker, Marsha Ternus, and Michael Streit, were ousted in the 2010 elections.[6]
This year, activists have enlisted the help of Senator and former presidential candidate, Rick Santorum, as well as Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. The two men will be part of a "NO Wiggins" bus tour, sponsored by various conservative groups, which will make stops in 17 Iowa communities next week.[7]
Iowa Supreme Court retention ratings
As featured in JP Election Brief: Judges seeking retention are judged on September 13, 2012.
A new poll of 600 likely voters shows that the four Iowa Supreme Court justices up for retention in the November election are likely to be retained.[8] The judges up for retention are: Bruce B. Zager, Thomas Waterman, and Edward Mansfield, who are facing their first retentions, and David Wiggins, the only remaining judge on the court involved in the controversial 2009 ruling legalizing gay marriage.
In 2010, three Supreme Court justices, David Baker, Marsha Ternus and Michael Streit, were voted out of office following anger over the gay marriage decision. These justices were the first to be defeated at retention since the state instituted its system of appointment and retention in 1962.[6]
The recent poll indicates a major shift in public perception, but voters will have to wait until election day to see if it proves correct.
Iowa 2012 retention elections
As featured in JP Election Brief: 2012 Retention Elections on July 5, 2012.
Following a judge's appointment, he or she face retention elections after either six years, for the Court of Appeals and District Courts, or eight years, for the Supreme Court.
This November, four Iowa Supreme Court justices will face retention votes. Three of the justices, Edward Mansfield, Bruce B. Zager, and Thomas Waterman, are new to the court, having been appointed to the court following the removal of three of the justices involved in the legalization of gay marriage in Iowa. The fourth justice up for retention, David Wiggins, has served on the court since 2006 and was also involved in the controversial gay marriage ruling. The retention vote for Wiggins will be an interesting indicator of the political climate in the state, and how it has or has not changed in the past two years.
External links
References
- ↑ The Sioux City Journal, "Poll: Iowa justices likely to survive November retention vote," September 12, 2012
- ↑ Radio Iowa, "Democrats get pep talk about judicial retention election (AUDIO)," September 16, 2012
- ↑ The Cedar Rapids Gazette, "New group launches ‘Yes on Retention’ campaign for Iowa judges," September 13, 2012
- ↑ Omaha.com, "New group works to keep judge on Iowa Supreme Court," September 15, 2012
- ↑ Quad-City Times, "Santorum, Jindal join efforts to oust Iowa judge," September 18, 2012
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 TPMMuckraker "Anti-Gay Groups Defeat Iowa Supreme Court Justices", November 3, 2010
- ↑ WCF Courier, "Santorum, Jindal join effort to oust an Iowa Supreme Court justice", September 18, 2012
- ↑ The Sioux City Journal, "Poll: Iowa justices likely to survive November retention vote," September 12, 2012
