Iowa Loses Civil and Human Rights Giant with Passing of Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady
Contact: Sheena Dooley, 515-249-6084
For Immediate Release: Nov. 16, 2019
Des Moines, IA—Saturday, November, 16, 2010—Iowa suffered the devastating loss of a leader for civil and human rights Friday with the passing Iowa Supreme Court Justice Mark Cady, who strongly advocated for fair and impartial courts and is widely known for authoring the opinion affirming marriage equality.
Chief Justice Cady also authored the court’s decision striking down Iowa’s 72-hour waiting period for women seeking an abortion because it violated due process rights and equal protections guaranteed under the state constitution. The ruling paved the way for the state’s 2018 six-week abortion ban to be struck down.
“The State of Iowa has lost a great man who changed the lives of countless Iowans and tirelessly worked to protect their rights,” said Erin Davison-Rippey, Iowa Executive Director of Planned Parenthood North Central States. “He leaves a enormous legacy and his profound impact will live on for generations to come. We will be forever grateful for his contributions and dedication to improving the state he served.”