Russ Lovell, professor of law, and Rachel Paine Caufield, associate professor of politics, were quoted in the National Law Journal on Monday, Aug. 23.
The story in the journal focused on state judges who may be at risk of losing their seats during the November election due to rulings that legalized same-sex marriage in several states.
Lovell weighed in on a movement in Iowa, led by former Republican candidate for governor Bob Vander Plaats, to remove three of the seven judges whose unanimous decision made same-sex marriage legal in Iowa. Lovell noted that the campaign was uncommon, and said “It’s very unusual to have a concerted effort to vote against retention. I don’t think we’ve ever seen that happen on a specific issue.”
Caufield discussed the backlash against the Iowa Supreme Court justices. “We’re going to have a wild ride these next three months,” she told the publication. “I think it’s going to be brutal for the judiciary.”