Resist retention of Iowa judges

Vote no on retaining Matthew McDermott and Dana Oxley on the Iowa Supreme Court. Both justices were appointed by Gov. Kim Reynolds and are on the ballot for retention this fall (reverse side of the ballot).

McDermott and Oxley are among the justices who this summer ruled that Iowa's constitution does not protect a woman's right to abortion, contrary to earlier decisions by the same court affirming that right. Buried in their specious reasoning is this tidbit: "[T]he United States Supreme Court is expected to decide an important abortion case this term … We expect the opinions in that case will impart a great deal of wisdom we do not have today.“ We know how that "wisdom" played out.

The lone dissenting justice, Brent Appel, who by Iowa law had to retire this summer, gave a lengthy and well-reasoned counter opinion that included this bit of (real) wisdom: "Constitutional liberties are often destroyed 'not with a bang, but a whimper.' I fear for the future of reproductive autonomy in Iowa. The majority today 'casts into darkness the hopes and visions of every woman in this country who had come to believe that the Constitution guaranteed her the right to exercise some control over her unique ability to bear children.“

Vote no on retaining McDermott and Oxley in November. And on the front side of the ballot vote for Deidre DeJear for governor. Otherwise, common sense should tell you Reynolds will appoint new like-minded justices.

Ed Fischer

Iowa City