Governor set to begin Supreme Court justice interviews

Gov. Terry Branstad on Monday said he expected this week to begin interviewing the nine prospective candidates for three openings on the Iowa Supreme Court who were recommended to him by the state Judicial Nominating Commission.

The Republican governor reiterated his disappointment that only one of the nominees is a woman who will be among the candidates who sit for a one-hour interview with the governor before he makes his three appointments later this month to replace ousted Justices David Baker, Michael Streit and Marsha Ternus.

Branstad said the fact that one of the nominees contributed money to his 2010 gubernatorial campaign would not have an impact on his decision, and he joked to reporters that he wished more of them had contributed – something that is allowed by private attorneys but not sitting judges. The list of prospective candidates includes current judges who were appointed by Branstad to the bench – another factor that he said would not give preference in his current selection process.

Also Monday, Branstad called it “unbelievable” that a national political columnist had incorrectly reported that he was endorsing former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty in the 2012 GOP presidential race. “I was absolutely flabbergasted,” Branstad told reporters when asked about the reported Pawlenty endorsement. The Iowa governor did not rule out making an endorsement before the February 2012 Iowa caucuses if a clear frontrunner emerges who he can support, but he said right now “I think it's a wide open field” in the race to land the Republican presidential nomination next year.