'Yes Iowa Judges' Tour Comes to Iowa City to Support Justice Who Ruled For Gay Marriage

Dueling bus tours are crisscrossing the state this week, one in support of keeping Iowa Supreme Court Justice David Wiggins on the bench, the other urging voters to oust the judge who helped legalize same-sex marriage in Iowa.

A "Yes Iowa Judges" tour, sponsored by the Iowa State Bar Association, will stop at the Johnson County Courthouse in Iowa City at 1:30 p.m. on Friday. It is part of a campaign to support Wiggins, who was part of the landmark ruling that legalized gay marriage in Iowa in 2009.

He is up for retention, which means voters will decide on Election Day in November if he will stay on the Supreme Court. In 2010, three other judges who also ruled in favor of gay marriage were ousted by voters in an election that drew national attention.

According to the Cedar Rapids Gazette, the State Bar’s board of governors approved a plan submitted by its Fair and Impartial Courts Committee that includes a postcard mailing, car window stickers, speeches to civic groups and a “Yes Iowa Judges” statewide tour.

The group is seeking to counter the message of conservative Christian group, the Family Leader, which is having its own Iowa bus tour urging voters to vote Wiggins out.

The Family Leader's "No Wiggins" tour will travel the state, but does not come to Johnson County.

Here is the "Yes Iowa Judges" tour full schedule:

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24  

Des Moines (west side of the State Capitol)  -  9:00 a.m.

Pella (Central Park, 720 Franklin Drive)  -  11:00 a.m.

Ottumwa (Ottumwa Park, Teal Drive off of Wapello Street)   -  12:45 a.m.

Burlington (Port of Burlington Visitor Center, 400 N. Front Street)   -  3:00 p.m.

Muscatine (Riverside Park on Harbor Drive)  -  4:45 p.m.  

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

Davenport (Scott County Courthouse)  -  8:45 a.m.

Cedar Rapids (Greene Square Park, 400 4th Avenue SE)  -  11:15 a.m.

Dubuque (Washington Park, 351 W. 6th Street)  -  1:30 p.m.

Waterloo (BlackHawk County Courthouse)  -  5:30 p.m.  

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

Mason City (Central Park, 10 1st Street SW)  -  9:30 a.m.

Marshalltown (Susie Sower Park, 60 N. 2nd Avenue)  -  12:15 p.m.

Fort Dodge (City Square Park, 120 N. 5th Street)  -  2:45 p.m.

Carroll (Southside Park, Bluff & Main Sttreet)  -  4:45 p.m.  

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

Council Bluffs (Location TBA)  -  9:30 a.m.

Sioux City (Location TBA)  -  11:45 p.m.

Spencer (Location TBA)  -  2:30 p.m.

Orange City (Location TBA)  -  4:30 p.m.  

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

Ames (Location TBA)  -  9:00 a.m.

Iowa City (Johnson County Courthouse)  -  1:30 p.m.

Here is the "No Wiggins" tour full schedule:

Monday, Sept. 24

9 a.m. Des Moines, Iowa State Capitol, 400 Finkbine Dr.

11 a.m. Pella, Central Park, 720 Finkbine Dr.

12:45 p.m. Ottumwa, Teal Drive off Wapello Street

3 p.m. Burlington, Port of Burlington Visitors Center, 400 N. Front St.

4:45 p.m. Muscatine, Riverside Park, Harbor Dr.

Tuesday, Sept. 25

9:30 a.m. Davenport, Living Water Family Church, 4706 NW

11:45 a.m. Cedar Rapids, Greene Square Park on 5th Ave SE

2 p.m. Dubuque, Washington Park, 351 W. 6th St.

4:30 p.m. Cedar Falls, PIPAC Centre, 1521 Technology Parkway

Wednesday, Sept. 26

9:30 a.m. Mason City, Central Park, 10 1st St. SW

12:15 p.m. Marshalltown, Susie Sower Park, 60 N 2nd Avenue

2:45 p.m. Fort Dodge, City Square Park, 120 N. 5th street

4:45 p.m. Carroll, Southside Park, Bluff & Main St.

Thursday, Sept. 27

9:30 a.m. Council Bluffs, Bayliss Park, 121 S. 6th St.

11:45 a.m. Sioux City, Sergeant Floyd Monument, 2701 S. Lewis Blvd.

2:30 p.m. Spencer, East Leach Park, Campground Entrance, 305 4th Street SE

4:30 p.m. Orange City, Windmill Square at 250 Central Ave NW