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The Iowa Journal - Web Exclusive - Iowa Constitution and Same-Sex Marriage Ruling

774 views · Published 24 April 2009 · 13:51 · Indexed 20 September 2026

Channel: Iowa PBS · 2009 · News & Politics

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This segment is a web exclusive from Iowa Public Television, which continues the on-air discussion from The Iowa Journal's April 23, 2009 broadcast. 

In light of the current Iowa Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage, the history of Iowa's Constitution has taken center stage. Supreme Court Justice Mark Cady, who wrote the unanimous marriage decision, at one point invoked the courts first-ever decision, in 1839, which struck down slavery in the state.

The Iowa Journal looks at some of the civil rights decisions made early in Iowa's formative years, and see how those issues have played out since then. The discussion will center on this concept of Iowa as a haven for civil rights  is it truly a state that puts individual and minority rights first? What happens if Iowa votes for a constitutional convention in 2010?  

Guests on this program include: Mark Kende, Des Moines: Professor of Law; James Madison Chair in Constitutional Law and Director of the Drake Constitutional Law Center and Karen Thalacker, Waverly: Lecturer in Public Law, Wartburg College; Attorney, Gallagher, Langlas, and Gallagher; Author, The New Lawyers Handbook." Host is Paul Yeager.

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