'Yes Iowa Judges' Tour Seeks to Counter Bid to Oust Justice Who Ruled For Gay Marriage

A second bus tour focused on a retention vote for an Iowa Supreme Court judge is on the road, hoping to counter the message of a conservative Christian group that wants Justice David Wiggins off the bench.

The Family Leader's "No Wiggins" tour kicked off Monday in Des Moines and will travel across the state, but Ames is not a stop on the schedule.

At the same time, a "Yes Iowa Judges" tour, sponsored by the Iowa State Bar Association, will also campaign, seeking to counter the Family Leader's message. They plan to stop at Bandshell Park in Ames 9 a.m. Friday.

Justice David Wiggins ruled in favor of legalizing gay marriage in Iowa. He is up for retention, which means voters will decide if he will stay on the Supreme Court. In 2010, three other judges who also ruled in favor of gay marriage were ousted by voters.

According to the Cedar Rapids Gazette, the State Bar’s board of governors approved a plan submitted by its Fair and Impartial Courts Committee that includes a postcard mailing, car window stickers, speeches to civic groups and a “Yes Iowa Judges” statewide tour.

In a 2012 Judicial Performance Review by the Iowa State Bar just 63 percent of respondents said Wiggins should be retained. The purpose of the State Bar's tour is to tell Iowan's the truth about the judges, as a counter balance to the misinformation "promulgated by Vander Plaats and the Family Leader," the Iowa Bar associationwebsite stated.

Here is the "Yes Iowa Judges" tour full schedule:

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24  

Des Moines (west side of the State Capitol)  -  9:00 a.m.

Pella (Central Park, 720 Franklin Drive)  -  11:00 a.m.

Ottumwa (Ottumwa Park, Teal Drive off of Wapello Street)   -  12:45 a.m.

Burlington (Port of Burlington Visitor Center, 400 N. Front Street)   -  3:00 p.m.

Muscatine (Riverside Park on Harbor Drive)  -  4:45 p.m.  

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

Davenport (Scott County Courthouse)  -  8:45 a.m.

Cedar Rapids (Greene Square Park, 400 4th Avenue SE)  -  11:15 a.m.

Dubuque (Washington Park, 351 W. 6th Street)  -  1:30 p.m.

Waterloo (BlackHawk County Courthouse)  -  5:30 p.m.  

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

Mason City (Central Park, 10 1st Street SW)  -  9:30 a.m.

Marshalltown (Susie Sower Park, 60 N. 2nd Avenue)  -  12:15 p.m.

Fort Dodge (City Square Park, 120 N. 5th Street)  -  2:45 p.m.

Carroll (Southside Park, Bluff & Main Sttreet)  -  4:45 p.m.  

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

Council Bluffs (Location TBA)  -  9:30 a.m.

Sioux City (Location TBA)  -  11:45 p.m.

Spencer (Location TBA)  -  2:30 p.m.

Orange City (Location TBA)  -  4:30 p.m.  

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

Ames (Bandshell Park)  -  9:00 a.m.

Iowa City (Johnson County Courthouse)  -  1:30 p.m.

Here is the "No Wiggins" tour full schedule:

Monday, Sept. 24

9 a.m. Des Moines, Iowa State Capitol, 400 Finkbine Dr.

11 a.m. Pella, Central Park, 720 Finkbine Dr.

12:45 p.m. Ottumwa, Teal Drive off Wapello Street

3 p.m. Burlington, Port of Burlington Visitors Center, 400 N. Front St.

4:45 p.m. Muscatine, Riverside Park, Harbor Dr.

Tuesday, Sept. 25

9:30 a.m. Davenport, Living Water Family Church, 4706 NW

11:45 a.m. Cedar Rapids, Greene Square Park on 5th Ave SE

2 p.m. Dubuque, Washington Park, 351 W. 6th St.

4:30 p.m. Cedar Falls, PIPAC Centre, 1521 Technology Parkway

Wednesday, Sept. 26

9:30 a.m. Mason City, Central Park, 10 1st St. SW

12:15 p.m. Marshalltown, Susie Sower Park, 60 N 2nd Avenue

2:45 p.m. Fort Dodge, City Square Park, 120 N. 5th street

4:45 p.m. Carroll, Southside Park, Bluff & Main St.

Thursday, Sept. 27

9:30 a.m. Council Bluffs, Bayliss Park, 121 S. 6th St.

11:45 a.m. Sioux City, Sergeant Floyd Monument, 2701 S. Lewis Blvd.

2:30 p.m. Spencer, East Leach Park, Campground Entrance, 305 4th Street SE

4:30 p.m. Orange City, Windmill Square at 250 Central Ave NW