The Iowa Supreme Court has reselected Justice Susan Larson Christensen as chief justice. Her previous term ended on December 31, 2024, and her new term began on January 1, 2025. The position of chief justice is held for a two-year period.
Justice Christensen was initially chosen for the role in 2020 following the sudden passing of Chief Justice Mark Cady in 2019. During the interim, Justice David Wiggins served as acting chief justice. Christensen is noted as the second woman to hold this position in Iowa's highest court.
With a judicial career spanning 17 years, including seven years on the Iowa Supreme Court, Chief Justice Christensen was appointed by Governor Kim Reynolds. She expressed gratitude for her reappointment: "I am once again honored to be selected by my colleagues to serve as chief justice of Iowa's court system," she stated. "In my nearly five years as chief justice I have seen the dedication of our court employees and their strong belief in our mission to administer justice under law equally to all persons. I am humbled to lead the judicial branch."
The responsibilities of the chief justice extend beyond judicial duties and opinion writing; they include presiding over oral arguments and court conferences, setting schedules for oral arguments, and delivering an annual state of the judiciary address to the legislature each January. As head of the Iowa Judicial Branch, Chief Justice Christensen manages operations alongside the state court administrator with a budget appropriation for FY 2025 totaling $201 million. This encompasses overseeing 357 judicial officers and more than 1,700 employees across all 99 counties in Iowa.
Chief Justice Christensen also plays a role in appointing members to various supreme court committees and task forces aimed at proposing policies and procedural rules.
Before her tenure as a judge, she practiced law in Harlan for sixteen years. She currently chairs several committees related to children's justice and family law issues. Additionally, she holds membership in multiple bar associations including The Iowa State Bar Association.
Born and raised in Harlan, Iowa, Chief Justice Christensen earned her bachelor's degree from Judson College in 1988 followed by a law degree from Creighton University School of Law in 1991. She is married with five children and nine grandchildren.