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Iowa Supreme Court Justice David May facing November retention vote amid abortion ruling

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Iowa Supreme Court Justice David May facing November retention vote amid abortion ruling


DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa Capitol Bureau) – One of Iowa’s Supreme Court justices who voted to uphold Iowa’s strict abortion law will be on your November ballot. The law bans abortion once cardiac activity is detected, which doctors say is usually around six weeks of pregnancy. In late June, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled in a 4-3 decision that the law could take effect.

Iowa Supreme Court Justices, unlike federal, are not a lifetime appointment. They go up for retention votes every eight years.

Typically, there’s not much drama involved. This time, one of the justices voted to allow Iowa’s strict abortion law to take effect. That could become a factor in whether he stays on the bench.

Rekha Basu, a retired columnist for the Des Moines Register says she’s voting to remove Justice David May. “It’s horrifying for a group of women members, male dominated members, of the Iowa Supreme Court to decide what rights a woman or a girl has over her own body,” Basu said.

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Basu says the court ruled against the will of the people. “The majority of Iowans, more than 60%, believe in a woman’s right to choose abortion so it goes against the will of the people of Iowa,” she said.

But Alan Ostergren, a conservative attorney, says Iowans should keep May on the bench. “This is a justice who did his job and decided this case fairly and objectively based on what he in good faith thought the law required,” Ostergren said.

While most of the attention in this election will be on national races, Ostergren says people should pay attention to this one. “We need to have the court able to make hard decisions. Decisions that not everybody will necessarily agree with because they’re making decisions based on the law, not based on public polling,” he said.

Basu takes a different view.

“If they say there should be no politics with the court system, why is there a retention election in the first place? That’s provided for under Iowa law. If you think someone is qualified to be a Supreme Court justice based on what their rulings have been, then you vote yes. If they’re not qualified, then you vote no. What makes that political?,” she said.

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If voters end up deciding to remove May, a state commission will submit names of potential justices to Governor Reynolds. Then, Reynolds will make the final decision of who takes the seat.

Conner Hendricks covers state government and politics for Gray Media-owned stations in Iowa. Email him at conner.hendricks@gray.tv; and follow him on Facebook at Conner Hendricks TV or on X/Twitter @ConnerReports.





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Two Iowans sentenced to prison for creating child pornography

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Two Iowans sentenced to prison for creating child pornography


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Two Iowans will spend decades in federal prison after pleading guilty to separate child exploitation offenses.

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Martin Menjivar, 59, of Iowa City, was sentenced Thursday, March 26, to 42 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of a child and child pornography possession. It comes days after Pry’Shayn Mosley, 21, of Fort Dodge was sentenced to 25 years for exploitation and receipt of child pornography.

Iowa City man picked up children from school, abused them

Menjivar, a citizen of Honduras, was charged in May 2025. In court filings, prosecutors say Menjivar was entrusted to pick up children, some as young as 5, from their elementary school and bring them to his wife’s home for after-school babysitting. In at least two cases, Mejivar used that access to get children alone and touch them inappropriately, recording the interaction on video.

Investigators reportedly found dozens of illicit images and videos on Menjivar’s electronic devices. Menjivar also previously worked as a school photographer in Honduras, and investigators found he had hundreds of photos from his former employment that focused on children’s clothed genitals.

“Defendant’s horrific actions of creating and collecting child pornography show violence against young, vulnerable children and a severe danger to the community,” prosecutors wrote in presentence filings.

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Menjivar also has been charged in Johnson County with second-degree sexual abuse against two different children, apparently in relation to the same conduct. That case remains pending, with a plea hearing scheduled in May.

Fort Dodge man gets 25 years for enticing children

Mosley, who was sentenced March 23, was charged in January 2025. Prosecutors alleged that in 2022, he enticed two minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct, photographed or recorded it, and distributed the resulting pornography to others, including additional children.

In addition, during a warrant search that located drugs, guns and electronic devices containing child pornography, Mosley tried to get a juvenile at the scene to conceal drugs from the investigators.

Mosley pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation and receiving child pornography. Additional drug, pornography and exploitation charges were dismissed as part of a plea deal.

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Menjivar was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, while Mosley’s case was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa. Attorneys for Menjivar and Mosley did not immediately return messages Thursday seeking comment.

William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com or 715-573-8166.



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Jada Williams among eight Iowa State players headed to transfer portal

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Jada Williams among eight Iowa State players headed to transfer portal


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Iowa State’s first-round exit from the 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament has triggered a mass exodus, with a reported eight players leaving the team to enter the transfer portal.

Junior forward Addy Brown announced her decision to “move on” from Iowa State and enter the transfer portal in a social media post on Tuesday, March 24.

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“This decision comes after a lot of thought about my future and goals,” Brown wrote in a post shared to social media. “While it’s never easy to move on, I believe this is the right step for me and I’m excited for what’s ahead as I continue to grow and chase my dreams.”

By Thursday, March. 26, several other players followed suit. Junior guard Jada Williams confirmed she’ll be “pursuing my dreams elsewhere” for her senior season. She added in a social media post, “Iowa State will always have a place in my heart and I’ll never forget the Iowa State way.”

Williams transferred to Iowa State for the 2025-26 season after playing for Arizona for the first two years of her career. William averaged career-highs in points (15.3), assists (7.7) and field goal percentage (41.7) in her lone season at Iowa State.

Iowa State freshman guard Reese Beaty, freshman guard Freya Jensen, sophomore guard Reagan Wilson, sophomore guard Aili Tanke, junior forward Alisa Williams and junior center Lilly Taulelei all intend to enter the transfer portal, according to On3’s Talia Goodman.

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The transfer portal opens on Monday, April 6, following the NCAA Tournament championship game on Sunday, April 5.

Could Iowa State junior center Audi Crooks be next? Crooks declined to answer whether she would return next season following Iowa State’s 72-63 loss to Syracuse on Saturday, March 21. She instead said, “We’re all still processing everything and just being there for each other right now is the priority. That’s the main thing, making sure everybody is mentally OK through this tough time.”

Crooks had 37 points (17-of-25 FG) and five rebounds in the losing effort against Syracuse.

Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@usatoday.com and follow her on X at@CydHenderson.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

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