1,200 sign letter to lawmakers in support of Iowa’s remaining justices

DES MOINES - Officials with Justice Not Politics said Friday they have seen a groundswell against impeachment proceedings and in support of Iowa's courts in the past week.

Spokeswoman Erin Seidler said more than 1,200 Iowans have signed an open letter to state lawmakers asking them to resist “any and all efforts” to impeach the current four justices of the Iowa Supreme Court.

“This overwhelming amount of support to stop impeachment proceedings against Iowa Supreme Court justices sends a strong message to the legislative leaders that Iowans won't stand an effort to politicize our courts,” she said in a statement.

Justice Not Politics members plans to deliver this letter to leaders in the House and Senate. At least four Republican members of the Iowa House have indicated they are drafting articles of impeachment against Justices Brent Appel, Mark Cady, Daryl Hecht and David Wiggins who joined in a unanimous 2009 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage in Iowa.

Three former justices -- Chief Justice Marsha Ternus and Justices David Baker and Michael Streit -- lost their retention votes and ended their terms on the court Dec. 31.