Des Moines, Iowa — Most members of the Iowa Legislature have started the long process of proposing a constitutional fix that would again let some child witnesses testify against an alleged abuser remotely.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird proposed the amendment after the Iowa Supreme Court ruled it is unconstitutional for children to testify against their accused abusers without facing them in person in court. Representative Steven Holt of Denison says the opinion offered no guidance on what options the courts could take so child abuse victims aren’t traumatized again.
Representative Charley Thomson of Charles City is among the six lawmakers who voted against advancing the proposed constitutional amendment.
Others, like Representative Ken Croken of Davenport, argue the legislature should pass a state law now to allow video testimony from children who are witnesses in abuse cases.
Representative Mark Thompson of Clarion supports the proposed amendment. He says justice is not served when a victim is too intimidated to testify.
The proposed amendment to Iowa’s Constitution says the right of an accused to confront a child under the age of 18, as well as witnesses with a mental illness or intellectual disability, may be limited by law. That language has been approved by legislators this year — and must again in 2027 or 2028 before voters could decide whether to add it to Iowa’s Constitution.
