Pawlenty: Boot Pro Gay Judges

Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, a presumptive Republican presidential candidate for 2012, said Thursday that he supports a campaign to remove three Iowa supreme court judges who joined the unanimous marriage equality decision last year.

According to the Associated Press, "Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty says there's nothing wrong with voters ousting judges if they disagree with their rulings, a move backed by some conservatives who oppose a state Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage in Iowa."

Last week, failed Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats of Iowa launched a campaign to oust Chief Justice Marsha Ternus and Justices David Baker and Michael Streit. Some church leaders have vowed to support the effort.

Pawlenty was making his fourth trip to Iowa since he decided not to seek reelection as governor, the AP reported. He said that he appoints conservative judges who "don't insert their personal opinions into rulings."