By Gary Barlow

Staff writer

Camilla Taylor, a Lambda Legal attorney based in Chicago who helped successfully argue the case for gay and lesbian marriage rights in Iowa, said Aug. 31 she’s optimistic that the Iowa Supreme Court will uphold those rights.

“Iowa law is very strong,” Taylor said. “Iowa has a long tradition of doing the right thing. …Dating back over a hundred years, Iowa courts have stood up for what is right.”

Polk County Judge Robert Hanson’s ruling that Iowa’s ban on gay and lesbian marriage is unconstitutional was appealed by the county, and Hanson stayed his ruling pending the outcome of that appeal. The Iowa Supreme Court can refer the case down to the Iowa Court of Appeals but legal experts expect that it will go ahead and hear the case, bypassing the intermediate appeal.

Taylor said that could take “at least many months.” She and other lawyers on the case expect to win that appeal.

“Iowa law is clear,” she said.

Taylor said that Hanson isn’t known as a particularly liberal or conservative judge.

“He’s simply known as being a fair judge,” she said. “The decision is not surprising. However, we are extremely thrilled that the judge recognized this.”

Similar cases are pending in courts in California, Connecticut and Maryland.

“I’m optimistic about all three,” Taylor said.