The Iowa General Assembly will begin its 2020 session on January 13, 2020, at 8:00 am. (Time is subject to change.) This year the session is scheduled to be in session until April 21.
FUAN will add research resources as needed to these pages to aid your understand the pros & cons of the bill.
Check back here often. FUANs recommendations and bill language will evolve throughout the session.
Allowing of cameras in courtrooms as an option in family courts.
The use of a personal recording device and or cameras in the courtroom promote several ideas.
a. Integrity - having cameras in the courtroom promotes adherence to due process procedures.
b. Accountability- Cameras in the courtroom promote accountability to the process because it is a true unbiased account of what happened and what was said in the courtroom.
c. Cameras in the courtroom are cost-effective. As more people are representing themselves and the cost of transcripts can be high. Allowing each party to make their own recordings of the proceedings allows immediate access to testimony during proceedings.
d, Efficiency in the process- allowing cameras/recording devices in the courtroom may decrease the time that it takes to complete a case.
e. Allowing each party to record with their own devices reduces the chance of fraud, lost testimony and or undecipherable testimony to be heard or seen.
f. It levels the playing field and provides a resource to ensure access to justice for those who are economically challenged.
g. It provides a resource for those who may have a disability and have trouble functioning in a legal setting.
h. If the public is allowed to attend the cameras and recording devices should be allowed in.
- Judicial,
- Human Resources,
- DHS,
- Adoption and Foster Agencies,
- Juvenile Corrections,
- Local and State Police Departments,
- Schools for all ages and curriculums,
- Counselors, psychologists, and other medical professionals
- ISBA
- Individuals
- Family Members
- Friends, and other community members that associate with those going through a custodial division
- Local Churches
- Homeless Shelters
- DHS
- Child Support Recovery Unit and other grantees
- Other Service Agencies that deal with troubled youth or families in need
The listing of the following people, organizations, state departments and offices in no way implies agreement or disapproval with the recommendations of FUAN. It is to simply acknowledge that in-person contact was made, and discussion relevant to our causes and concerns were addressed during those encounters.
Members of the Legislative, Executive and Judiciary Branches, ISBA, and Iowa Department of Human Services have been consulted which includes but is not limited to the following individuals:
President, Donald Trump
Iowa NAACP
Iowa ACLU
Dr. Linda Nelson
Charles Palmer Former Director DHS
Jerry Foxhoven Former Director DHS
Vern Armstrong DHS
Wendi Rickman DHS
President of “The Fatherless Generation, Dr. Torri Barton
Attorney Connie Reguli
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush
Former Gov. of West Virginia, Garry Johnson
Former Congressman David Young
House of Representatives Oversight Committee
Representatives and members of the Supreme and District Courts
Diane Dornburg ISBA
Iowa Citizen For Justice
Forensic Psychologist – Attorney Demosthenes Lorandos
The Iowa Supreme Court
Iowa Fathers Association
Attorney, Jacob Van Cleaf
Attorney Kerry Finley
Attorney Daniel Herting
Former Representative Dan Kelly
Former Representative Ken Rizer
Former Representative Walt Rodgers
Senator Ted Cruz
Senator Rick Santorum
Senator Rand Paul
Senator Joni Ernst
Senator Charles (Chuck) Grassley
President of TERM- The Fathers Rights Movement, Thomas Fidler
TV host, John Harvey
Former Representative Chip Baltimore
Former Representative Clel Baudler
Former Representative Josh Byrnes
Former Representative Peter Cownie
Former Representative David Heaton
Former Representative Jake Highfill
Former Representative Kevin Keoster
Former Representative Sally Stutsman
Former Representative Rob Taylor
Former Representative Ralph Watts
Attorney Tom Feigen
Desmund Adams
Former Jimmy Carter Administration employee, Robert Krause
President of IFPP - Iowa Family Preservation Project,
Jeannine Eldrenkamp
L.E.A.P — Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
Asian & Latino Coalition
Renaissance Center of Iowa
Family Leader
Sherry Palmer - PhD
Former Senator Mike Gronstal
Former Senator Todd Bowman
Senator Mark Castello
Former Senator Dick Dearden
Former Senator Jeff Danielson
Former Senator Rita Hart
Senator Kevin Kinney
Senator Matt McCoy
Former Senator Steve Sodders
Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley
Missouri Gov. Nixon
Clive Police Lieutenant Mario Colman
Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer
Congresswoman Cindy Axne
Nathaniel Gavronsky
Daniel Zeno ACLU
Dawn Turner district 2 Regional Supervisor
Gary Bucher Owner of Mid Iowa Occupational Testing
Harold Colman – Iowa Child Support Recovery Unit
Iowa Senators
Iowa Representatives:
As well as many other respected community leaders and organizations and residents all over the US, including:
Dr. Mark Roseman, Founder, and CEO of the Toby Center for Family Transitions
Leading Women for Shared Parenting
Americans for Equal Shared Parenting
Wisconsin Fathers For Children and Families
There is no proposed language that applies to Iowa Code.
Creative solutions still being explored.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We'll post links to relevant information to inform your point of view about this issue.
Michigan Supreme Court rules cellphones must be allowed in all Michigan courts
Updated 2020.0126