DES MOINES, Iowa Only six of Iowa’s seven Supreme Court justices heard the case on the law meant to block abortions after a “fetal heartbeat” is detected, which is usually around six weeks and before many know that they are pregnant
Friday’s decision was split 3-3, which left the law permanently blocked.
Many Republicans were upset by the news, including Governor Reynolds who appointed five of the seven justices, the other two being appointed by his predecessor Terry Branstad.
It’s not entirely surprising that some judge or justice doesn’t always vote a certain way, and part of that, too, especially for Republican candidates, is that many of them are again more hesitant to break the work of the legislature,” Tim Hagle, a political science professor at the University of Iowa said.
As with any decision made by Iowa’s highest court, Hagle said criticism was expected.
We heard the disappointment and disapproval of Governor Reynolds, Speaker of the House Pat Grassley, and Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver.
Now The Family Leader President and CEO Bob Vander Plaats is taking it a step further.
In a tweet, he asked the three justices, who voted against reinstating the abortion ban, to “to resign, to be dismissed or dismissed”.
He has a history of campaigning for judges to be removed. Vander Plaats led the charge in 2010, when three justices were voted out after a ruling that made Iowa the third state to legalize gay marriage.
Now Hagle said that while some Iowans may disagree with his views, the justices likely won’t recuse themselves and their retention vote won’t be until 2028.
“Well, four or five years from now and at that point you know other issues are going to come up, other decisions are going to be made,” Hagle said. “People may not have completely forgotten, but there won’t be that intensity.”
As for the Iowa Legislature that voted for them, Hagle said they would need something more than just disagreeing with them.
There would have to be something else to suggest that they had done something improper to get enough votes to basically eliminate some of these people,” Hagle said.
Iowa Democratic leaders, who applauded the court’s decision, say that would be the wrong move.
“The courts do not work for the legislature, the courts do not work for the special interest, the courts are an independent body and to maintain that they do not have to live under the constant threat of impeachment when they reach a decision that the special interest doesn’t like it,” said state Rep. Jennifer Konfrst.
Iowa’s News Now reached out to Republican lawmakers, but did not hear back. On Friday they said they will be looking at all options to protect the unborn.
