Gay Marriage Foes Back Push to Oust Iowa Justices

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gay marriage isn't on the ballot anywhere this year, but it's still a hot topic in Iowa.

Out-of-state groups have been pouring time and money into an effort to unseat three state Supreme Court justices who joined a unanimous ruling legalizing same-sex unions in the state last year.

Gay marriage opponents kicked off a bus tour Monday with a rally at the Iowa Statehouse. They pleaded their case for why Iowa voters should oust Chief Justice Marsha Ternus, and justices David Baker and Michael Streit on Nov. 2. Iowa voters have never ousted a state Supreme Court justice.

Organizers of a counter rally nearby argued that anti-gay rights groups only care about punishing the justices and don't worry about the damage they'll do to Iowa's judicial appointment process.