Fairly and correctly administering the law was a form of public service that Mark Cady turned into his life’s work.

Cady, the Fort Dodge man who was the chief justice of the Iowa Supreme Court when he died in November 2019, was a steady presence in courtrooms for nearly 40 years. He began his judicial career as a Webster County district associate court judge. He steadily moved up the ranks of the state’s judiciary, becoming a district court judge, judge of the Iowa Court of Appeals and justice of the Iowa Supreme Court. He became chief justice in 2010.

During that time, he heard thousands of cases and wrote just as many decisions and opinions.

Seeking a way to honor that legacy of service, the Drake University Law School and the Iowa State Bar Association have designated today as the third annual Mark S. Cady Day of Public Service.

As might be expected, attorneys are being encouraged to spend the day volunteering their time to work on various legal projects. But you do not need a law degree to take part in the Mark S. Cady Day of Public Service. A desire and ability to help others is all that is needed.

On its web site, the Drake University Law School has listed planed projects in Des Moines, Marshalltown and other places across Iowa. They include lots of attorney-driven projects that will bring legal advice to people who would not otherwise be able to get it. But the list of projects also includes park cleanups, blood drives, food drives and meal-packing sessions. Locally, the Webster County Bar Association got an early start on the Day of Public Service by serving a free spaghetti dinner to the community Thursday evening at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Dodge.

All of these community-minded activities are a fine tribute to Cady’s legacy. We encourage everyone to participate in the Mark S. Cady Day of Public Service.