$2.$ In $2009,$ the Iowa Supreme Court $($state court$)$ ruled that state laws limiting marriage to only one

man and one woman violated the Iowa state constitution$$s equal protection clause. In $2010,$ three of the

judges who voted in favor of this ruling were voted out of office in a judicial retention election. The Iowa

Supreme Court ruling as to same$-$sex marriage was an indication that:

A$.$ Most judges want to impose their liberal views on society.

B$.$ Most people in the United States are in favor of same$-$sex marriage.

C$.$ The judicial branch is $$ahead$$ of other branches of government.

D$.$ Judges have a lot of freedom to interpret state laws.