House Journal: Page 47: Wednesday, January 14, 1998

	statehouse in November to attend the Supreme Court hearing of a
hog lot case, reminded their followers to vote against the
justices in the next retention election if the court didn't rule
in favor of the group's cause.
"/U"	Business associations in several Midwestern states have hired
consultants to evaluate judges for "anti-business" bias. 
"/U"	During the 1996 presidential race, both candidates attacked a
federal district court judge in New York for his evidentiary
ruling in a drug case.  The judge changed his order, forever
calling into question his impartiality and credibility.
These attacks and intimidation tactics do a grave disservice to
the public.  Criticism of the courts is not new and is to be
expected.  For judges, criticism comes with the territory and we
are entirely accustomed to it.  However, the kind of efforts I
have just described threaten the integrity of our nation's
justice system. 
Just what, then, is the condition of Iowa's judicial branch of
government?  The short answer is that it closely matches the
condition of Iowa itself_good enough to be the source of pride
but in constant need of attention.  Certain areas, such as
juvenile court, need special attention just now.  Technology is
an enormous help to Iowa's courts as we embark upon a new
millennium.  Our greatest present threat is a frontal assault on
judicial independence by some who would politicize and thereby
destroy_or at least severely damage_the courts' usefulness to
our citizens.  
Finally, like our other two branches of government, courts do
not belong to the temporary incumbents but rather to the people
who sent us all here.  Let us keep that foremost in our minds as
we work together to make Iowa government a source of lasting
pride for us all.
Chief Justice Arthur A. McGiverin was escorted from the House
chamber by the committee previously appointed.
On motion by Gipp of Winneshiek, the joint convention was
dissolved at 10:25 a.m.
The House stood at ease at 10:26 a.m., until the fall of the
gavel.
The House resumed session at 10:33 a.m., Speaker Corbett in the
chair.

ASSIGNMENT OF SEATS IN PRESS GALLERIES
The following named persons are accredited members of the press,
TV and radio stations and are entitled to access to the press
galleries:

Ankeny Press Citizen	Dave DeValois
Des Moines Register	David Yepsen, Tom Fogarty,
	Jon Roos
Dubuque Telegraph Herald	Mary Rae Bragg
Iowa Legislative News Service	Will Chen, Jack Hunt,
	Leslie Campbell, Tom Hunt
Lee Enterprises Des Moines Bureau	Kathie Obradovich, Lynn Okamoto

© 1998 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

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