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Constitution of Iowa - History of Civil Rights in Iowa

Duration: 27:46 (Full Program)
Transcript (RTF)

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 court’s first-ever decision, in 1839, which struck down slavery in the state.

The Iowa Journal will look 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 Lawyer’s Handbook."

Host Paul Yeager and David Pitt of The Associated Press talk about the significance of President Obama's visit to Newton on the state's wind economy and investing in "green" industries.

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Post Date: April 23, 2009