Iowa Judicial Branch
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Justice Court
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Recent News About Iowa Judicial Branch
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A vacancy has been announced for the position of Elective Judicial Nominating Commissioner in Judicial Election District 8A. Individuals interested in this role can now access nominating petitions to be included on the ballot. The successful candidate will serve the remainder of the term, which concludes on January 31, 2028.
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The Iowa Judicial Branch oversees the collection and distribution of court debt, a task mandated by the Iowa Code. Annually, it gathers over $140 million in court debt, distributing these funds to various recipients including the state general fund, victims, cities, counties, sheriff departments, and multiple other state entities.
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Iowa voters have access to detailed information about judges up for retention in the upcoming general election on November 5. The Iowa Judicial Branch website provides the 2024 Iowa Voter's Judicial Directory, which includes biographies of each judge on the ballot. These biographies cover judges' backgrounds, education, careers, and professional activities. Additionally, the directory explains Iowa's judicial retention process and factors voters might consider when deciding whether to retain a justice or judge.
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Governor Kim Reynolds will administer the ceremonial oath of office to Judge John Sandy, newly appointed to the Iowa Court of Appeals. The investiture ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. It will take place in the Iowa Supreme Court Courtroom at the Iowa Judicial Branch Building in Des Moines.
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The Iowa Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments on October 8 in the Historic Supreme Court Courtroom at the Iowa State Capitol, located at 1007 E. Grand Avenue, Des Moines. The session will commence at 7 p.m., and the public is welcome to attend.
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On Tuesday, September 24, the Iowa Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Harlan, Iowa. The proceedings will take place in the Harlan High School auditorium, located at 2102 Durant Street. The oral arguments are open to the public and will commence at 7 p.m.
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Students and teachers can now access a comprehensive resource for understanding the United States and Iowa Constitutions. The Constitution Day 2024 page on the Iowa Judicial Branch website features a constitutional case argued before the Iowa Supreme Court, along with videos and podcasts. This initiative is a collaboration between the judicial branch and The Iowa State Bar Association and is available at https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/supreme-court/constitution-day-2024.
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The Iowa Supreme Court today announced its 2024-2025 adjudicative term calendar. The schedule includes special evening sessions in Des Moines, sessions at Drake and Iowa law schools, and three special sessions in various communities to hear oral arguments. The adjudicative term, when the supreme court hears oral arguments and writes the majority of its published opinions, spans from September 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.
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The Iowa Court of Appeals has elected Mary Tabor, Des Moines, as chief judge. Chief Judge Tabor has served on the court of appeals since 2010. She is the eleventh chief judge since the state legislature established the Iowa Court of Appeals in 1976. She replaces Chief Judge Thomas Bower, who recently retired.
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Notice is hereby given of a vacancy in the office of Elective Judicial Nominating Commissioner for Judicial Election District 1B. Nominating petitions are now available for individuals who wish to have their name listed on the ballot to serve the remainder of the term for this position, which expires on January 31, 2026.
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Today marks the conclusion of the 2023-2024 Iowa Supreme Court adjudicative term. During this period, the court addressed 104 cases. All opinions from these cases are now available on the Iowa Judicial Branch website.
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The Iowa Business Specialty Court has experienced significant growth in cases over the last decade, with a survey indicating that more than 95 percent of participating attorneys felt all parties were treated fairly. This finding is part of the first biannual review posted on the Iowa Judicial Branch website today. The report can be accessed at https://www.iowacourts.gov/static/static/media/cms/Business_Court_Report_CY2223__FINAL_A822F47370611.pdf.
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The Iowa Supreme Court has approved $870,244 in grants to nonprofit programs that provide legal assistance to low-income Iowans with civil legal problems. The court awarded grants to 13 different organizations throughout Iowa. The grants are funded by the Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program. With this year's grants, the supreme court has awarded more than $26 million in IOLTA grants since the program began on July 1, 1985.
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Eighteen Iowans applied with the State Judicial Nominating Commission to fill the vacancy on the Iowa Court of Appeals that will occur upon the retirement of Chief Judge Thomas Bower.
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On Thursday, June 13, the Iowa Court of Appeals will hold a special ceremony to mark the retirement of Chief Judge Thomas Bower. The public ceremony is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in the supreme court courtroom on the fourth floor of the Iowa Judicial Branch Building, located at 1111 E. Court Ave., Des Moines. Overflow seating will be available. Chief Judge Bower will officially retire on July 1, 2024.
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Chief Justice Susan Christensen has appointed District Court Judge Craig Dreismeier of Council Bluffs as the new chief judge of the Fourth Judicial District. Judge Dreismeier will succeed Chief Judge Jeffrey Larson, who is set to retire on July 1, 2024. He will officially assume his new role on July 2, 2024.
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Eighteen Iowans have applied with the State Judicial Nominating Commission to fill the vacancy on the Iowa Court of Appeals arising from the retirement of Chief Judge Thomas Bower.
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Notice has been given of a vacancy in the office of Elective Judicial Nominating Commissioner for Judicial Election District 2B. Nominating petitions are now available for individuals who wish to have their name listed on the ballot to serve the remainder of the term for this position, which expires on January 31, 2030.
