DES MOINES, Iowa—Mark Cady, the chief justice of the Iowa Supreme Court died unexpectedly Friday night from a heart attack, his family said in a statement posted on the court’s website. He was 66.
“Tonight, the state lost a great man, husband, father, grandfather, and jurist,” the family wrote.
In an accompanying post, the court described him as an exceptional judge who was respected and beloved by his fellow jurists.
“His passing is a great loss to the court and the state he so loyally served,” the court wrote.
A court spokesman, Steve Davis, said Cady was in Des Moines when he died.
Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered on Saturday all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff and to remain that way until a memorial service is held. She said she was heartbroken to learn of his death.
“He loved the law, the judiciary, and the state we call home. He leaves behind a legacy of service and dedication that we should never forget,” she said.
Governor for just over two years, Reynolds, a Republican, already has appointed two justices—one due to illness and another retirement—and now will fill another vacancy.
Although Cady was one of five Republican appointees to the court, he often sided with the two justices appointed by Democratic governors.
Cady, of Ft. Dodge, was appointed to the Iowa Supreme Court in 1998 by Republican Gov. Terry Branstad. The members of the court selected him as chief justice in 2011.
Branstad, now U.S. ambassador to China, said in a statement that accompanied the governor’s that he was proud to have appointed Cady to the district court, appeals court and state Supreme Court.
“He was a dedicated jurist who was liked and respected for his strong work ethic and fairness,” Branstad wrote.
Born in Rapid City, South Dakota, Cady earned his undergraduate and law degrees from Drake University in Des Moines.
He was appointed a district court judge in 1986. In 1994, he was appointed to the Iowa Court of Appeals and was elected chief judge in 1997 and served until his appointment to the state Supreme Court.
He was chairman of the National Center for State Courts Board of Directors and served as president of the Conference of Chief Justices.
Cady is survived by his wife, Becky, two children, and four grandchildren.
By David Pitt