Des Moines, July 17, 2012 ?Judge John Miller, senior judge serving the Iowa Court of Appeals, recently received the Iowa Judges Association Award of Merit at the Judges Association meeting. The award is given annually to recognize a judge who has made extraordinary contributions to the Iowa Judges Association and who has been a role model to new judges.

"Our Iowa judiciary is staffed with skilled, hardworking judges of high integrity who are dedicated to fulfilling their constitutional and statutory duties, and constantly strive to improve the judiciary," Judge Miller said. "I am honored and humbled to receive this award of merit from my peers for my contribution to our efforts."

The Award of Merit is given, as stated on the plaque itself, in recognition of the judge's dedication, skill, distinguished service, and extraordinary efforts for the betterment of the Iowa judiciary.

"The attributes stated on the award are exemplified by Judge Miller through his many years of outstanding service to the public as a trial judge, appellate judge, and senior judge," Fifth District Court Judge Robert Hutchison, Des Moines, said.

Judge Miller, Burlington, retired from the Iowa Court of Appeals in 2009 after more than 30 years in the judiciary. Prior to his judgeship, he was a part-time judicial hospitalization referee while in private practice from 1975-1980. Judge Miller served more than 18 years as a district court judge, 14 months of which he spent as Chief Judge of the Eighth Judicial District.   He served on the Iowa Court of Appeals from 1999-2009. He received both his undergraduate and bachelor degree from the University of Iowa, completing his undergraduate study in 1969 and graduating from law school, with distinction, in 1975.

During his career, Judge Miller was a member of the Judicial Administration Committee of The Iowa State Bar Association for nearly 22 years, and co-chaired its ad hoc judicial plebiscite committee. He was an active member of the Iowa Judges Association, as he served on a majority of its committees and spent three separate terms on its board of directors, holding each one of its offices, including its presidency in 1998-99.

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Branstad commutes 38 sentences to life with a mandatory 60 years before parole possible

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad today took action to prevent the release of dangerous murders in light of the recent Miller v. Alabama United States Supreme Court decision, where they ruled that states cannot mandate life sentences without the possibility of parole for murderers who committed their crimes before the age of eighteen.

The court's ruling means that up to 38 dangerous juvenile murderers in Iowa will seek resentencing and more lenient sentences.

"During this process, the victims are all too often forgotten by our justice system, and are forced to re-live the pain of the tragedies," said Branstad. "These victims have had their loved ones violently taken away from them. I take this action today to protect these victims, their loved ones' memories, and to protect the safety of all Iowans."

In compliance with the U.S. Supreme Court decision, Gov. Branstad will commute the life without parole sentences today to life with the possibility parole only after 60 years for the 38 people who were convicted of First Degree Murder while a juvenile.

This action means that they will not have the possibility of parole until they have served 60 years.

"Justice is a balance and these commutations ensure that justice is balanced with punishment for those vicious crimes and taking into account public safety," said Branstad. "First degree murder is an intentional and premeditated crime and those who are found guilty are dangerous and should be kept off the streets and out of our communities."

"Today Governor Branstad and I want to ensure that justice is served, Iowans are protected, and victims are heard," said Reynolds. "The governor's action today gives the opportunity for parole in compliance with the recent Supreme Court decision; however, the action also protects victims from having to be re-victimized each year by worrying about whether the Parole Board will release the murderer who killed their loved one."

Floor Statement of U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley on the nomination of John Thomas Fowlkes to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Tennessee

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Mr. President, I rise in support of the nomination of John Thomas Fowlkes, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Tennessee.

Although it is the practice and tradition of the Senate to not confirm Circuit nominees in the closing months of a Presidential election year, we continue to confirm consensus District Judge nominees.  Today's vote will be the 152nd nominee of this President confirmed to the district and circuit courts.  We also have confirmed two Supreme Court nominees during President Obama's term.

I continue to hear some members repeatedly ask the question "What is different about this President that he has to be treated differently than all these other Presidents?"  I won't speculate as to any inference that might be intended by that question, but I can tell you that this President is not being treated differently than previous Presidents.  By any objective measure, this President has been treated fairly and consistent with past Senate practices.

For example, with regard to the number of confirmations, let me put that in perspective for my colleagues with an apples-to-apples comparison.  The last time the Senate confirmed two Supreme Court nominees was during President Bush's second term.   And during President Bush's entire second term the Senate confirmed a total of only 119 district and circuit court nominees.  With Judge Fowlkes' confirmation today, we will have confirmed 33 more District and Circuit nominees for President Obama than we did for President Bush, in similar circumstances.

During the last Presidential election year, 2008, the Senate confirmed a total of 28 judges - 24 District and four Circuit.  Today, we will exceed the number of District Court judges confirmed.  We have already confirmed five Circuit nominees, and this will be the 25^th District judge confirmed this year.  Those who say that this President is being treated differently either fail to recognize history or want to ignore the facts.

Judge Fowlkes received his B.A. from Valparaiso University in 1975 and his J.D. from University of Denver School of Law in 1977.  From 1978 to 1979 he worked as an assistant public defender at the Shelby County Public Defender's Office, where he represented indigent defendants.  In 1979, he joined the Shelby County District Attorney General's Office and served as an Assistant District Attorney for the next ten years.  There he tried nearly 150 jury trials, handling homicide, assault, sex offense, robbery, and burglary cases. In 1989, he became an Assistant United States Attorney, trying criminal cases until 2002.  As an AUSA, he tried over 100 jury trials and handled all appellate level work. During his time at the Attorney's Office, Judge Fowlkes was a First Assistant for several years, directing day to day operations of the office.   From 2002 to 2007, Judge Fowlkes was the Chief Administrative Officer for Shelby County.  He was not engaged in the practice of law during this period.

In 2007, then-Governor Phil Bredesen appointed Judge Fowlkes to be a Criminal Court Judge for Division VI of the 30th Judicial District at Memphis.  In November 2008, he was elected to a full, eight-year term. In 2011, he was elected by judges of the 30th Judicial District to serve as presiding judge.

The ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary unanimously rated Judge Fowlkes as "Well Qualified."

New law makes fleeing more difficult for offenders

CHICAGO - July 5, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation that strengthens Illinois' criminal justice system. Senate Bill 2520 closes a loophole in the Illinois Criminal Code, thereby making it more difficult for fugitives to flee a municipality, county, state, country, or other defined jurisdiction. Today's action by Governor Quinn is his latest to crack down on crime and increase public safety.

"It is my duty to keep the people of Illinois safe and ensure we have a sound criminal justice system," Governor Quinn said. "This legislation will prevent criminals from evading punishment and help us bring them to justice."

Sponsored by Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago) and Rep. Sidney Mathias (R-Arlington Heights), SB 2520 makes it a Class 4 felony for an offender's immediate family members over the age of 18 to assist them in fleeing, or to intentionally prevent the seizure and arrest of the offender. Violators will face between one and three years in prison and/or a $25,000 fine. Currently, a loophole in the Illinois Criminal Code exempts immediate family members from violation of the statute. Illinois had been one of only 14 states to exempt immediate family members.

This legislation arose from an investigative series in the Chicago Tribune highlighting flaws in the criminal justice system that allow criminals to flee the country and remain free even when authorities know their whereabouts.

The law is effective Jan. 1, 2013.                         

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