Mark Cady

Mark Steven Cady (July 12, 1953 – November 15, 2019) was an American jurist. He served on the Iowa Supreme Court for 21 years from 1998 to 2019. From 2011 to 2019, he was the chief justice of the court. He was the author of the court's opinion in Varnum v. Brien, which legalized same-sex marriage in Iowa.[1]

Mark Cady
Cady in 2015
Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court
In office
January 11, 2011 – November 15, 2019
Preceded byMarsha Ternus
Succeeded byDavid Wiggins (Acting)
Personal details
Born(1953-07-12)July 12, 1953
Rapid City, South Dakota, U.S.
DiedNovember 15, 2019(2019-11-15) (aged 66)
Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
Political partyIndependent
EducationDrake University (BA, JD)

Early life and career

Mark Steven Cady was born on July 12, 1953, in Rapid City, South Dakota. His parents were Kenneth and Suzanne Cady. He graduated from Austin High School in Austin, Minnesota, in 1971.[2] He graduated from Drake University in 1975 with a degree in economics. In 1978, he earned his law degree from Drake and was elected to the Order of the Coif.[1][3]

Judicial career

Cady began his legal career in Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he practiced law for five years, including one year as a law clerk and one year as an assistant Webster County attorney. In 1983, Cady was appointed as an Iowa District Associate Judge, and in 1986, he was appointed to be an Iowa District Judge.[4] In 1994, Governor Terry Branstad appointed him to the Iowa Court of Appeals. In 1997, Cady became the youngest chief judge in the history of the Court of Appeals. Four years later, Branstad elevated Cady to the Iowa Supreme Court. In 2010, Cady was made interim chief justice, and in 2011, he was elected to a full term as chief justice[5][6] Cady was retained in the 2017 retention elections.[7] On the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court, Cady continued to live in Fort Dodge.[4]

As a justice, he wrote the opinion in Varnum v. Brien, a unanimous decision in 2009 that made Iowa the third state to permit same-sex marriage.[5] In 2018, he wrote the 5–2 majority opinion in Planned Parenthood v Reynolds that struck down a 72-hour waiting period for an abortion.[8] Cady also established the Iowa Access to Justice Commission, served as president of the national Conference of Chief Justices, and chaired the Board of Directors of the National Center for State Courts.[9][6] Cady also taught at Buena Vista University from 1980 until his death.[6]

Other activities

He served as the chairman of the National Center for State Courts Board of Directors. He was also the president of the Conference of Chief Justices. He was an adjunct faculty member at Buena Vista University.[10][11]

Personal life

Cady was married to Rebecca Cady on May 22, 1982, in Des Moines, Iowa, and the couple had two children.[2]

He died unexpectedly on November 15, 2019, after suffering a heart attack while walking his dog. He was 66 years old.[12][13] Drake University and the Iowa State Bar Association created the Cady Day of Public Service in his memory. Drake University also created a Cady Law Opportunity Fellow Program for law students from underrepresented backgrounds.[14]

References
  1. "'He leaves behind a legacy of service and dedication that we should never forget': Iowa's leaders remember Chief Justice Mark Cady". Des Moines Register. 2019-11-16.
  2. "Obituary for Mark Steven Cady, 1953-2019". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines. November 19, 2019. p. A10. Retrieved March 5, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Chief Justice Cady" (PDF). Iowa Judicial Branch. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  4. Laird, Rox (November 2016). "A Conversation with the Court" (PDF). The Iowa Lawyer: 13–16.
  5. "Chief Justice Mark Cady, who wrote the opinion affirming right to same-sex marriage in Iowa, dies at 66". Des Moines Register. 2019-11-16.
  6. "Key moments and rulings in Mark Cady's life and his 36 years on the Iowa bench". Des Moines Register. November 16, 2019.
  7. "Iowa Supreme Court Retain Mark Cady Results: "Yes" Wins". New York Times. 2017-08-01.
  8. "Chief Justice Mark Cady, who wrote the opinion affirming right to same-sex marriage in Iowa, dies at 66". Des Moines Register. 2018-06-29.
  9. Spoerre, Anna (November 20, 2019). "'The nicest guy you could ever hope to meet': Chief Justice Mark Cady remembered as a jurist, family man and friend". Des Moines Register.
  10. "Mark S. Cady". Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  11. "Mark S. Cady". NNDB. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  12. "Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady Dead at 66". whotv.com. 2019-11-16. Retrieved 2019-11-16.
  13. Pitt, David (November 16, 2019). "Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady dies unexpectedly". Associated Press. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  14. "Drake Law School and the ISBA dedicate annual day of service to the late Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady, LW'78". Drake University Newsroom. 2020-05-27. Retrieved 2022-05-06.
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