House Journal: Page 70: Wednesday, January 15, 2003
Mr. Speaker, Madam President, Members of the General Assembly, Governor
Vilsack, Lieutenant Governor Pederson, distinguished guests and friends. On behalf of
the Iowa Judicial Branch, thank you for the invitation to speak here today. Before I
begin, I would like to invite you to join us downstairs in our courtroom for coffee and
conversation following my remarks.
I would also like to extend a warm welcome to the new members of the General
Assembly, and to acknowledge the newest member of the Iowa Judicial Council, Judge
Michael Walsh, Chief Judge of the Third Judicial District, which encompasses most of
northwest Iowa. No doubt you will encounter many challenges in your new roles,
especially this year. But that’s what public service is all about - finding solutions to
challenges facing our society.
Dr. Martin Luther King
It’s appropriate to take a moment to acknowledge the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr., which is today. Challenges did not deter Dr. King and his followers. They
encountered hostile, often violent opposition to their peaceful efforts to end racial
segregation and discrimination, and yet they persevered, helping bring the promise of
the Constitution to all Americans.
Dr. King once said: "The ultimate measure of man is not where he stands in
moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and
controversy." Although the present challenges we face in Iowa are much different from
those Dr. King confronted, his example and words can serve to inspire us as we work
through our present difficulties.
We are concerned, as you are, about the state’s fiscal problems. I’m here to report
that notwithstanding continuing financial hardships and unprecedented cuts in court
operations, the Judicial Branch is managing to perform its basic responsibilities. All
credit for this belongs to our judges and court staff. We’re immensely proud of them.
I will discuss the condition of our day-to-day operations later in my remarks. But
first, some encouraging news about progress we’ve made in the midst of these most
trying times.
Termination of Parental Rights: Appellate Rules
Like you, we regard our work with troubled families, especially children, as one of
the most important things we do, and we are always searching for new strategies to
address their needs. One of our most notable accomplishments this year has been our
continuing effort to move children out of foster care and into permanent homes faster
by speeding up the process in termination of parental rights cases.
The 1997 federal Adoption and Safe Families Act, and subsequent state action,
sought to reduce the amount of time children spend in foster care and to bring
permanency to their lives as quickly as possible. Immediately following the adoption
of the Act, our trial courts made great strides fulfilling its spirit, but the appellate
process, which the Act did not address, continued to be slow in termination of parental
rights cases. We sought to correct this.
Last year we adopted new court rules that simplified appellate procedures and cut
the time for appeal by more than half for these cases. A process that used to drag on
© 2003 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
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