Chair of ISBA's Independence of the Judiciary Committee is guest on latest Iowa Public Radio podcast episode

The Iowa State Bar Association's (ISBA) Independence of the Judiciary Committee (IJC) Chair Guy Cook is a guest on Iowa Public Radio's latest River to River podcast episode to emphasize the importance of judicial independence in Iowa's upcoming retention election.

The IJC continues its mission to protect judicial impartiality, with Chair Guy Cook recently defending the retention of Iowa Supreme Court Justice David May during the podcast. The episode, titled "What's the purpose of a judicial retention election?" focuses on arguments for and against Justice May's retention and what a 'yes' or 'no' vote means.

This appearance follows the ISBA's ongoing efforts to educate voters about the importance of judicial retention elections, which are not meant to be influenced by public opinion or political motives but to evaluate judges based on their performance and adherence to the law. Cook reiterated the need for voters to uphold Iowa's tradition of fair and impartial courts, emphasizing that removing a judge over disagreement with specific rulings threatens judicial independence.

Other guests on the podcast episode include Scott Peters, professor and department head at the University of Northern Iowa department of political science, and Rekha Basu, author of Finding Her Voice and former Des Moines Register columnist.

The ISBA has been actively advocating for the retention of Justice May, with Cook's comments marking a continuation of the association's dedication to keeping Iowa's judiciary focused on justice, not politics. Voters are encouraged to stay informed through resources such as JudicialFacts.org ahead of the Nov. 5 election.

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