Former Supreme Court Justice Visits Le Mars

(Le Mars) — A former Iowa Supreme Court justice was in Le Mars Tuesday visiting with fellow attorneys, and greeting others at the Plymouth County Historical Museum. Justice Bruce Snell, Jr. served on Iowa’s highest court between 1987 and 2001. Justice Snell followed his father, Bruce Snell Sr. as being the only father-son combination to both serve on the Iowa Supreme
Court. His father was on the high court bench during the 1960’s. Justice Bruce Snell Jr. was first appointed to the Iowa Appeals Court by then Governor Robert Ray, and later was appointed to the Iowa Supreme Court by Governor Terry Branstad. Snell didn’t want to comment on any specific cases, but he says the Appeals Court was created due to the backlog of judicial
cases.

The Iowa judicial branch today is still facing a backlog of cases, and clerks and judges have not been given any pay increase for a number of years. Snell says there are also several positions that remain open and no one has been appointed to serve on the bench. Several district courts have been forced to
close early as a result of furloughs. Snell says it is a problem that
deserves due attention.

Judge Snell continues to comment on the large case load situation facing courts.

Snell says the judicial branch should be above politics, but he admits that politics are entering the courtroom, and he points to the case of same-sex marriage ruling as an example of how politics got involved with the courts, with the result of some justices being voted off the bench.

The former Iowa Supreme Court justice believes some of the types of cases that may emerge in the future may deal with the rights extended to illegal immigrants.