Cheif Justice junks court services re-organization plan

Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Louis Lavorato says he’s not going to pursue a plan to re-organize the court services area. The move would’ve cut the current 99-county system into 28 regional court service areas. Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack says public outcry probably had a lot to do with the decision.Vilsack says the justice announced the plan in the first place to get feedback from Iowans, and it appears that feedback was mostly negative. Vilsack was asked if the state will have to find more money to maintain the current system.Vilsack says Lavorato is now empowered to say to legislators that their constituents want more money to maintain the current system. Vilsack says it may be tough for the legislature to turn down a request for more court money.Vilsack made his comments on a conference call with reporters from Washington, D.C.