On Monday, Iowa Democratic Party Chair Troy Price and top attorneys and legal experts will be holding a statewide press call to discuss the recent controversy and legal implications surrounding Governor Reynolds’ “constitution violating” appointment of Judge Jason Besler to the 6th Judicial District. According to the Iowa constitution, the governor must make a judicial appointment by 30 days after names are submitted to her. If the deadline is not met, the constitution requires the Chief Justice to make the appointment instead.

By her own admission, Governor Reynolds failed to notify Judge Besler on time stating “I didn’t get the phone call made” because “We’re on the road. We’re busy.” On June 25, 2018, four days after the constitutional deadline, a press release stated Governor Reynolds had appointed Judge Besler for the 6th Judicial District on Thursday, June 21, 2018, even though there is no clear evidence of this.

Since Governor Reynolds admitted to not notifying Judge Besler in time, raising questions on the legality of the appointment, the admission also raises questions on the “backdating” of the official appointment certificate. The official document was dated on June 21, despite the Governor’s office confirming she signed it “sometime after June 21.”

Under state law, it is “felonious misconduct in office” when any public employee knowingly: “makes or gives any false entry, false return, false certificate, or false receipt, where such entries, returns, certificates, or receipts are authorized by law”; “falsifies any public record” ; “falsifies a writing, or knowingly delivers a falsified writing, with the knowledge that the writing is falsified and that the writing will become a public record of a government body.”

STATEWIDE PRESS CALL

WHO: Iowa Democratic Party Chair Troy Price and prominent attorneys and legal experts

WHAT: Governor Reynolds “Constitution-Violating” Judicial Appointment Press Call

WHEN: Monday, September 24, 11:30 AM

WHERE: REGISTER FOR CALL

CONTACT: Tess Seger, tseger@iowademocrats.org, (503) 473 – 7624

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