Former Chief Justice Marsha Ternus Will Deliver Lecture at Touro Law
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Former Chief Justice Marsha Ternus Will Deliver Lecture at Touro Law
Iowa Supreme Court Former Chief Justice Marsha Ternus will Deliver the Howard A. Glickstein Civil Rights and Public Policy Lecture on April 6, 2011
March 9, 2011Central Islip, NY – In 2009, Touro Law Center created the Howard A. Glickstein Civil Rights and Public Policy Lecture in honor of Dean Emeritus Howard A. Glickstein. This year's lecture will be delivered by former Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court Marsha Ternus on Wednesday, April 6, 2011. A wine and cheese welcome reception will begin at 6 pm with the lecture immediately following.
Chief Justice Marsha Ternus, Des Moines, was appointed to the Iowa Supreme Court in 1993 by Governor Terry Branstad. The members of the court selected her as chief justice in 2006, making her the first woman to serve as chief justice of Iowa’s highest court. Chief Justice Marsha Ternus was unseated during a retention vote in 2010. Her removal, as well as that of fellow Justices David Baker and Michael Streit, marked the first time an Iowa Supreme Court justice had not been retained since 1962 when the merit selection and retention system was adopted. Their stunning removal was the direct result of one case, Varnum v. Brien, an Iowa Supreme Court unanimous ruling that overturned the state’s same-sex marriage ban.
Marsha Ternus and her colleagues did not launch a campaign against the activists responsible for their unseating. According to the Associated Press, “Ternus told the Telegraph Herald of Dubuque that she and justices David Baker and Michael Streit don't want to set an example for judges by campaigning and raising money.”
Ternus said, “How would you feel, as a litigant, to appear in court and know that the opposing party's attorney gave money to the judge's re-election campaign and your attorney didn't? Is that the kind of system Iowans want? I just hope they think about it. This is way more important than whether any one judge is retained or not.”
Justice Ternus has not spoken publicly about her removal from the court – until now. For additional information, please visit www.tourolaw.edu/civilrightslecture or contact Vanessa Steil at (631) 761-7066 or by email at events@tourolaw.edu.
Chief Justice Marsha Ternus, Des Moines, was appointed to the Iowa Supreme Court in 1993 by Governor Terry Branstad. The members of the court selected her as chief justice in 2006, making her the first woman to serve as chief justice of Iowa’s highest court. Chief Justice Marsha Ternus was unseated during a retention vote in 2010. Her removal, as well as that of fellow Justices David Baker and Michael Streit, marked the first time an Iowa Supreme Court justice had not been retained since 1962 when the merit selection and retention system was adopted. Their stunning removal was the direct result of one case, Varnum v. Brien, an Iowa Supreme Court unanimous ruling that overturned the state’s same-sex marriage ban.
Marsha Ternus and her colleagues did not launch a campaign against the activists responsible for their unseating. According to the Associated Press, “Ternus told the Telegraph Herald of Dubuque that she and justices David Baker and Michael Streit don't want to set an example for judges by campaigning and raising money.”
Ternus said, “How would you feel, as a litigant, to appear in court and know that the opposing party's attorney gave money to the judge's re-election campaign and your attorney didn't? Is that the kind of system Iowans want? I just hope they think about it. This is way more important than whether any one judge is retained or not.”
Justice Ternus has not spoken publicly about her removal from the court – until now. For additional information, please visit www.tourolaw.edu/civilrightslecture or contact Vanessa Steil at (631) 761-7066 or by email at events@tourolaw.edu.
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: Patti Desrochers
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