Vander Plaats calls on remaining judges to resign

JOHNSTON — Former GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats last week called on the four remaining Iowa Supreme Court justices to use next month’s annual message to lawmakers to announce their plans to resign.

Vander Plaats urged the four justices to “do the right thing” by stepping down rather than face impeachment by state lawmakers.

“We’re giving this court an opportunity to lead,” Vander Plaats said during the taping of an Iowa Public Television “Iowa Press” show slated to air Dec. 31.

Vander Plaats, who led the successful campaign to oust three justices in last month’s election, said it would be “disingenuous” for the four justices who were not up for retention to ignore the will of the people by staying on until they face retention votes in future years. He said he preferred resignation to impeachment.

“I don’t think it’s in the best interest of the people of Iowa to go through a long, drawn-out impeachment hearing. There’s a lot of issues on the plate (next legislative session),” Vander Plaats said.