On Tuesday, March 6, the Iowa Senate passed SF 2282 with a full floor vote of 26-24. The bill would require five Iowa Supreme Court justices to agree on a case rather than the current four in order to declare a statute unconstitutional.
One Iowa Action Executive Director Daniel Hoffman-Zinnel condemned SF 2282 in a statement.
“The Iowa Supreme Court is charged with protecting the constitutional rights of all Iowans,” One Iowa Action Executive Director Daniel Hoffman-Zinnel said. “This bill would place an undue burden on justices as they work to defend our most vulnerable. If passed, the Court’s ability to check the legislature and the governor would be undermined, gutting the essential balance of powers our government relies on.”
“This bill is an attempt to punish the Iowa Supreme Court for past decisions that some legislators didn’t like or find inconvenient. Varnum v. Brien, our state’s marriage equality case, is almost certainly one of them.”
“The flagrant disregard senators are showing for the constitutional rights of Iowans by passing this bill is inexcusable. LGBTQ Iowans, people of color, people with disabilities, and many others rely on a robust judicial system to protect them from unconstitutional discrimination. No person or group’s personal vendetta against the Court should jeopardize the rights and freedoms of Iowans. We call on the House to put a stop to this shortsighted and dangerous bill.”