Court administrators are preparing for large crowds when the Iowa Supreme Court hears oral arguments next week in the case that challenges the constitutionality of Iowa’s gay marriage ban. A Polk County judge ruled in favor of six couples who challenged the law banning same-sex marriage — and the case was quickly appealed.
Steve Davis, the communications officer for the court system says, "I can’t remember a case that had this much potential public interest in this point of the process." Davis says the Supreme Court chambers and a nearby auditorium can accommodate only about 130 members of the public.
"We’ve gotten calls from people who want to reserve seats. We aren’t able to do that. It will be first come first serve," Davis says. Davis says the court will offer on-line streaming video of the proceedings for the first time since the court moved to its new building at the capitol four years ago.