Vander Plaats touts campaign to oust Iowa justices

(AP) - Gay rights opponents on Wednesday promised an intense and well-financed campaign to oust three Iowa Supreme Court justices who joined last year's unanimous decision that legalized gay marriage in the state.

Bob Vander Plaats, who lost the Republican primary for governor but has a strong following among social conservatives, said he was confident the effort would succeed. If so, it would be the first time since Iowa adopted its current system for appointing judges in 1962 that voters opted to remove a Supreme Court justice.

"I believe when we do this in Iowa it will send a ripple effect across the country and it will give hope to the people in California, give hope to the people in Arizona and across the country that you can hold courts in check," said Vander Plaats, referring to court decisions that have blocked laws dealing with gay marriage and immigration.

Vander Plaats announced last week that he would lead the campaign to remove Chief Justice Marsha Ternus and Justices David Baker and Michael Streit. He was joined at a news conference outside the state's Judicial Building by the Rev. Brad Sherman, a minister from Coralville who said church leaders would play an important role in the effort.

"We're going to be working with pastors and church leaders around the state," Sherman said.

They dubbed their campaign Iowa for Freedom.

Bryan English, of the socially conservative Iowa Family Policy Center, didn't attend the news conference but said he expected many groups will be involved in the effort.

"I think there very likely will be some cooperation that can happen," English said.

Carolyn Jenison, executive director of the gay-rights advocacy group One Iowa, said she expected groups to spend millions of dollars campaigning on either side of the issue.

"I think it's going to be huge," Jenison said.

Iowa Judicial Department spokesman Steve Davis said the three justices declined to comment.

Only four judges, all from lower courts, have been removed by voters since Iowa adopted its current merit-based selection system.

Under that system, a nonpartisan panel interviews applicants for judicial openings, selecting a field of three finalists. Those candidates are submitted to the governor, who makes the final choice without legislative approval. Voters can decide near the end of judges' terms whether they should remain in office.

"I think our chances of getting the three are very good," Vander Plaats said.

He declined to say how much the campaign would spend but said he expects to be outspent by gay-rights advocates.

"We are under no illusions that we will not be outspent. We are prepared to be outspent," Vander Plaats said. "We don't have a set budget in mind."

Besides removing the justices, Vander Plaats said he wants to reshape the way judges are chosen in Iowa, a system created 48 years ago when voters amended the state constitution.

Former state Supreme Court justices criticized that effort.

"I don't think he understands the system," said former justice Mark McCormick, of Des Moines. "It has taken the judiciary out of politics and the judiciary belongs out of politics."

Former Justice Robert Allbee said few lawyers would leave lucrative law practices without some assurance of security on the bench.

"Most of us would not even have considered the judiciary," Allbee said. "I had a strong practice and a practice that supported my family well, but I was encouraged to seek the judiciary on the basis that it was something I could depend on for the future for as long as I want, rather than be turned out by some whimsical turn of events or partisan politics."

Democratic Gov. Chet Culver has spoken out strongly against Vander Plaats' effort. Republican challenger Terry Branstad hasn't taken a position on the matter but said he respects Vander Plaats' focus on the issue.