gubernatorial appointment through nominating commission
Court of Appeals:
gubernatorial appointment through nominating commission
District Court:
gubernatorial appointment through nominating commission
Supreme Court:
at least 1 yr
Court of Appeals:
at least 1 yr
District Court:
at least 1 yr
Supreme Court:
retention election
Court of Appeals:
retention election
District Court:
retention election
Supreme Court:
8 yrs
Court of Appeals:
6 yrs
District Court:
6 yrs
Supreme Court:
gubernatorial appointment through nominating commission
Court of Appeals:
gubernatorial appointment through nominating commission
District Court:
gubernatorial appointment through nominating commission
Supreme Court:
next general election after 1 yr in office
Court of Appeals:
next general election after 1 yr in office
District Court:
next general election after 1 yr in office
Supreme Court:
peer vote
Court of Appeals:
peer vote
District Court:
supreme court selects
Supreme Court:
8 yrs
Court of Appeals:
2 yrs
District Court:
2 yrs
Supreme Court:
licensed in state and member of Iowa bar; resident of state; maximum age of 72
Court of Appeals:
licensed in state and member of Iowa bar; resident of state; maximum age of 72
District Court:
licensed in state and member of Iowa bar; resident of district; maximum age of 72
Selection and retention methods and term lengths are prescribed by Article V of the Iowa Constitution and Chapter 46 of the Iowa Code.
Note: The Unified Trial Court Act of 1973 established a unified trial court, the district court. The act abolished more than 500 justice of the peace courts, 899 mayor’s courts, 14 municipal courts, and 34 police courts. In addition to district court judges, the unified district court includes district associate judges, associate juvenile judges, associate probate judges, and judicial magistrates who exercise varying degrees of limited jurisdiction. For example, district associate judges hear serious misdemeanor cases of $10,000 or less, associate juvenile judges are limited to juvenile court matters, associate probate judges are limited to probate matters, and judicial magistrates hear simple misdemeanor cases of $4,000 or less within their county of residence. Currently, there are 116 district court judges, 67 district associate judges, and 133 magistrates.
