State Legislators, 6th District Senator, Mark Segebart, and 12th District Representative, Brian Best, faced questions regarding proposed changes to the state’s judicial nominating process at Friday’s Carroll Chamber of Commerce Legislative Forum. Under the current system, half of the 16-person nominating commission is appointed by the Iowa governor and the remaining half is selected by members of the Iowa Bar Association. The group is tasked with recommending judges to the governor to fill vacancies when they occur. Bills that would change how this commission is selected made it through the March 8 funnel in both chambers. When asked about the House bill, Best shared a joint statement from the House Republicans.
Best says has not yet decided what he thinks of the idea. According to him, it would be prudent to wait and see what form the final bill takes before making a decision.
Segebart, on the other hand, is in favor of making a change. According to him, the current system has been in place since 1962 and is long overdue for reexamination. He says their goal is to increase transparency and reduce judicial activism.
The issue was brought up later in the forum during the Q&A session by Peter Leo, a Manning resident and Denison-based attorney. Leo questioned Segebart’s reasons for supporting the change.
Leo called the proposal a “solution in search of a problem.” Segebart responded, saying he would like to have more local voices in the nominating process, not fewer. Following last Friday’s funnel, the bills now move to the Senate and House floors for further consideration.
