A Story ran on the cover of Tuesday’s Des Moines Register revealing the details of a July 12 party hosted by Dennis Drake, the husband of Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Marsha Ternus where seven teenagers were arrested for possession of alcohol. Mr. Drake, was also charged with interference with official acts. Police are investigating the possibility of charges associated with providing alcohol to minors.
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Drake, who is the general counsel for the Iowa Health System, certainly understood that hosting a beer party for a group of teens not only violated the law, but also violated the principles of the organization he represents, and the justice system he and his wife are sworn to uphold.
It’s refreshing to know that the Polk County Sheriff’s office is willing to evenly enforce the law, even when the infraction takes place on property owned by the Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court. It is also refreshing to see the Des Moines Register give appropriate coverage to a negative story about one of their heroes on the court.
What needs to happen next is for those in the legal system to deal with the infractions just as they would were the crimes committed on any other piece of property by any other citizen. Lawyers, judges, and their children should not receive special treatment, and with your involvement that won’t happen in this case. It’s time for average Iowans to engage in a modern day “hue and cry.”
hue and cry
Function: noun
Etymology: hue outcry
Date: 15th century
1 a: a loud outcry formerly used in the pursuit of one who is suspected of a crime b: the pursuit of a suspect or a written proclamation for the capture of a suspect
2: a clamor of alarm or protest (Source: Miriam Webster OnLine)
In common law, a hue and cry (Latin, hutesium et clamor, "a horn and shouting,” or from ME "hu,” and AF "cri") is a process by which bystanders are summoned to assist in the apprehension of a criminal who has been witnessed in the act of committing a crime. (Source: Wikipedia)
You can download an ethics complaint form from the Iowa Bar Association by clicking here. When filing a complaint, please identify the nature of the legal matter as facilitating the consumption of alcohol by underage drinkers, and interfering with the official acts of an officer of the law. You may attach copies of the Des Moines Register Article or other documents that help support the complaint.
If you would like to include statistics about underage drinking and the dangers associated with it, you can find information from:
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
The form requires information about Mr. Drake that is available on the Iowa Judicial Branch web page:
Full Name: Dennis William Drake
Address: 1515 Linden St., Suite 100
Des Moines, IA 50309-3120
Return the completed form to:
Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board
Judicial Branch Building
1111 East Court Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50319
You may also want to send a copy of the complaint to the Chairman of the Board at Iowa Health System:
Jim Hoffman
Chairman of the Board
Iowa Health System
1200 Pleasant Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
.jpg)
Drake, who is the general counsel for the Iowa Health System, certainly understood that hosting a beer party for a group of teens not only violated the law, but also violated the principles of the organization he represents, and the justice system he and his wife are sworn to uphold.
It’s refreshing to know that the Polk County Sheriff’s office is willing to evenly enforce the law, even when the infraction takes place on property owned by the Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court. It is also refreshing to see the Des Moines Register give appropriate coverage to a negative story about one of their heroes on the court.
What needs to happen next is for those in the legal system to deal with the infractions just as they would were the crimes committed on any other piece of property by any other citizen. Lawyers, judges, and their children should not receive special treatment, and with your involvement that won’t happen in this case. It’s time for average Iowans to engage in a modern day “hue and cry.”
hue and cry
Function: noun
Etymology: hue outcry
Date: 15th century
1 a: a loud outcry formerly used in the pursuit of one who is suspected of a crime b: the pursuit of a suspect or a written proclamation for the capture of a suspect
2: a clamor of alarm or protest (Source: Miriam Webster OnLine)
In common law, a hue and cry (Latin, hutesium et clamor, "a horn and shouting,” or from ME "hu,” and AF "cri") is a process by which bystanders are summoned to assist in the apprehension of a criminal who has been witnessed in the act of committing a crime. (Source: Wikipedia)
You can download an ethics complaint form from the Iowa Bar Association by clicking here. When filing a complaint, please identify the nature of the legal matter as facilitating the consumption of alcohol by underage drinkers, and interfering with the official acts of an officer of the law. You may attach copies of the Des Moines Register Article or other documents that help support the complaint.
If you would like to include statistics about underage drinking and the dangers associated with it, you can find information from:
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
The form requires information about Mr. Drake that is available on the Iowa Judicial Branch web page:
Full Name: Dennis William Drake
Address: 1515 Linden St., Suite 100
Des Moines, IA 50309-3120
Return the completed form to:
Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board
Judicial Branch Building
1111 East Court Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50319
You may also want to send a copy of the complaint to the Chairman of the Board at Iowa Health System:
Jim Hoffman
Chairman of the Board
Iowa Health System
1200 Pleasant Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
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