Legislators Propose Cutting Salaries of Varnum Justices

April 23, 2013

A group of Republican members of the house of representatives have proposed cutting the pay of the four remaining Iowa Supreme Court justices who participated in Varnum v. Brien, a unanimous 2009 ruling that struck down a state law banning same-sex marriages. According to one legislator, the proposal is consistent with the legislature's "responsibility to maintain the balance of power" among the three branches of government. The other three members of the seven-member Court who participated in the Varnum decision were rejected by voters in 2010.