[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 66 (Thursday, May 10, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E762]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 COMMENDING FORMER IOWA CHIEF JUSTICE MARSHA TERNUS AND JUSTICES DAVID 
                        BAKER AND MICHAEL STREIT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BRUCE L. BRALEY

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 10, 2012

  Mr. BRALEY of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, courage is a virtue that is too 
often in short supply. That's why I congratulate former Iowa Chief 
Justice Marsha Ternus and Justices David Baker and Michael Streit. 
These courageous public servants received the prestigious John F. 
Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for doing their jobs on the Iowa 
Supreme Court. Together, they stood up for equal protections under the 
law for all Iowans. These courageous Justices were part of a unanimous 
decision that recognized marriage equality for all Iowans.
  Although these Justices faced intimidation and threats after deciding 
the landmark case Varnum v. Brien, they did what they were supposed to 
do: uphold the Constitution. Justice Baker's words are a great example 
of why they deserve such a prestigious honor, ``I am comfortable with 
my vote in that case and even if I had known what would have occurred, 
I would have not changed my vote. We fulfilled our role as judges.''
  Efforts to intimidate judges and try and turn the bench into a 
political soap box will do nothing to advance justice. Iowa judges are 
chosen based on merit, not politics. After they are appointed, their 
positions are subject to retention elections. In 2010, these judges 
were on the ballot for a retention vote and were ousted from their 
positions on the Supreme Court after large sums of out-of-state money 
funded a ``Vote No'' campaign.
  They were voted off the bench because they fulfilled their sworn oath 
to uphold the Constitution of Iowa, which guarantees equal protection 
under the law to all citizens of Iowa, without regard to their sexual 
orientation. They are great role models for my children and all Iowans. 
By their actions, they became symbols that doing what's right isn't 
always easy; and doing what's easy isn't always right.

                          ____________________