UPDATES & ANALYSIS

Eighth Circuit Rejects Constitutional Challenge to Iowa’s Judicial-Selection Method

by Ryan Koopmans | April 9, 2012

By Ryan Koopmans

This morning the Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court’s dismissal of a lawsuit challenging Iowa’s method of electing members of the State Judicial Nominating Commission under the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution.  The Court rejected Plaintiff’s argument that Iowa’s system of allowing only members of the Iowa Bar to vote in the election violates the “one-person, one-vote” principle, reasoning that the system was only subject to rational basis review because the election is “an election of special interest” and concluding that the system was “rationally related to Iowa’s legitimate interests.”  The opinion is here.

Tags: Eighth Circuit, Judicial Appointments