Why you should vote YES

There are a variety of reasons why you as an Iowan should vote YES to retain all 74 judges and justices up for retention this year. Below are three reasons. Click here for more.

A “YES” vote helps keep politics and out-of-state money out of our courts
A "YES" vote keeps our judges and justices accountable to the constitution, not to political pressure or popular opinion
A "YES" vote helps ensure fair hearing regardless of financial status, gender, ethnic background or political affiliation or connections

This retention vote is not about whether you agree with the Varnum decision. Rather the question is whether the judge standing is competent, ethical and works hard to resolve the day-to-day legal issues of Iowans. Our Iowa judges and justices are competent, ethical, and work hard day in and day out for all Iowans. We urge you to turn your ballot over and vote YES to retain our Iowa judges and justices.

Visit www.judicialfacts.info for more information related to the 2012 Judicial Retention Election

2012 Judicial Performance Review

The 70 judges and four supreme court justices standing for retention in this year’s general election on November 6 are well qualified to remain as judges.

All 74 received high marks on the 12 questions (10 for members of the supreme court and court of appeals) for their professionalism and demeanor as determined by the attorneys who voted in the bi-annual Judicial Performance Review, formerly known as the “plebiscite,” conducted by The Iowa State Bar Association. Voting in the performance review occurred the first two weeks
of June.

Thirteen of Iowa’s 14 judicial election districts have at least one judge standing for retention in the 2012 general election. Four justices on the supreme court and three judges on the court of appeals are also up for retention this year.

This year’s survey garnered 1,450 responses, which is comparable to the numbers in most years.

View the results here.
Click here to visit the Judicial Review webpage.

Iowa Voters Judicial Directory

Voter Information:

Answers to Questions about Judicial Retention Elections
Biographies of Judges on the 2012 Iowa Ballot

Click here to view the directory.

The Iowa State Bar Association Loan Repayment Assistance Program

The program exists to support law school graduates in choosing employment in the public interest field and in retaining such employment.

To fulfill its mission, the ISBA-LRAP provides assistance to help participants repay their educational loan expenses, thus allowing participants who would otherwise be precluded from accepting employment in public interest fields because of salaries that do not support their student loan responsibilities.