Judge dismisses lawsuit over new judicial nominating law
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging a new state law that changed the way some judges are selected in Iowa.
The lawsuit filed in May by a group of Democratic lawmakers and lawyers against Gov. Kim Reynolds was dismissed Thursday by a state court judge who said they don’t have legal standing to challenge the law.
The new law passed by Republicans and signed by Reynolds gave the governor an additional appointment to the 17-member state judicial nominating commission resulting in the governor having a majority of nine appointees. Lawyers continue to elect eight members to the group.
The lawsuit alleged that the vote of the lawyer members of the commission has been diluted and that the law is an unconstitutional overreach by the legislative branch of government into the judicial branch.
The commission nominates justices for the Iowa Supreme Court and the Iowa Court of Appeals.
Judge Sarah Crane, who was appointed to the court by Reynolds last year, dismissed the case.
Reynolds says the decision is good news for the rule of law and Iowans.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs say the decision will be appealed to the Iowa Supreme Court.