Four Iowa Supreme Court Justices Up for Retention, One is Being Singled Out

Justice David Wiggins was part of the unanimous vote three years ago that legalized same-sex marriage.

By Fatima Rahmatullah

CREATED Oct. 23, 2012

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Council Bluffs, IA – We took a look at the Iowa Supreme Court retention vote.  In 2010, voters ousted three Supreme Court judges for supporting gay marriage.

Four justices are up for retention one is being singled out because of how he voted in 2009. 
Justice David Wiggins was part of the unanimous vote three years ago that legalized same-sex marriage.
CEO of the Family Leader, Bob Vander Plaats says he wants Justice Wiggins out not because he disagrees with the vote but because he says Wiggins abused his power.
“When they say they’re holding up Iowa’s constitution to an evolving standard they don’t get to evolve our constitution only we the people get to evolve our constitution,” says Vander Plaats.
Mike Yowell of One Iowa says Justice Wiggins voted based on how Iowans feel on the issue.
“Once we start voting people off the bench because they don’t agree with a decision a justice makes then all justices are going to think to themselves how should I rule in this,” says Yowell.
A recent poll from Justice Not Politics shows 47% of Iowans are for retention, 25% are against and 25% are undecided. 
An Iowa voter Susan South says, “I think Justice Wiggins went outside of what the people of Iowa really wanted I think they legislated from the bench rather than what people wanted.”
Another voter Jacque Reumund says, “I can’t hold that one thing against him if he’s doing the rest of his job the correct way.”
Justice Wiggins has declined to campaign for his seat other than writing in the Des Moines Register that he hoped Iowans would keep him but he says he will not politicize the courts.