Here's what you need to know about absentee ballots and voting early in Iowa. Anti-retention campaigns are often sparked by specific judicial decisions, like legalizing same-sex marriage in Iowa, Keith said. However, if I lived in Judicial District 6 (Linn, Johnson, Benton, Iowa, Jones, or Tama counties) I would vote against retaining Jason Besler, because Reynolds appointed him in violation of Iowa’s constitution. Meanwhile, studies of trial court judges, who are bound much more rigidly by the law of any particular case, find little or no correlation between political affiliation and judicial decisions. Iowa district courts are trial courts in Iowa. For assistance with problems associated with this web page please contact the OCIO Help Desk at 515-281-5703 / 1-800-532-1174 or helpdesk@iowa.gov. This State of Iowa Government computer system is for authorized use only. P.S.–I voted for retaining all of the District Court judges on my Polk County ballot. Judge Appleby currently serves as a member of the Judicial Council. Kim Reynolds last year signed a Republican-backed law giving the governor an additional appointment on the statewide nominating commission that selects Supreme Court justices and Court of Appeals judges. . Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. Judicial retention:See the judges and justices facing retention elections in 2020 Iowa judges and justices are on the ballot this year. District Court Judge, Joel W. Barrows: District 7. Get the scoop on all the candidates in the 2020 Iowa General Elections. Zacharias said about 45 people were part of the commissions, while current district court judges also sat in on the interviews. "And so the fact that these are conservative justices who are up for retention makes it much less likely that we’re going to see a campaign to unseat them.". U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa - 604 F. Supp. Your subscription makes our journalism possible. Here's how to find where to vote early in Iowa. The 2nd District judges — … Iowa Courts. (Brett Kavanaugh, interestingly, wasn’t on either one.) Newly Appointed District Judge, Gina Badding, Fulfills Career Goal With Monday’s Announcement And Begins Preparations For The Bench April … District Court Counties Served Iowa District 1A: Allamakee, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, and Winneshiek: Visitors to this site agree that the Second Judicial District Court of the State of New Mexico is not liable for errors or omissions of any of the information provided. Iowa Judicial Districts. In 1962, Iowa voters approved a constitutional amendment that replaced elections of judges with merit selection and retention elections, which help curb the influence of political parties and special interest groups in the selection of Iowa’s judges, among other things. For subscribers:Absentee ballot requests are outpacing 2016 in many Iowa counties. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. When Iowa voters flip over their ballots this fall they'll find a list of judges and Supreme Court justices. The Court holds its regular sessions in Des Moines in the Iowa Judicial Branch Building located at 1111 East Court Avenue on the state Capitol grounds just south of the Iowa State Capitol Iowa District Court Judge Robert Hanson on Monday issued an emergency stay of the requirement that Democrats said would confuse voters, especially those … During the 2016 campaign, Donald Trump released two lists of his potential Supreme Court nominees. Here's what you need to know about absentee ballots and voting early in Iowa, giving the governor an additional appointment, Kim Reynolds signs bill giving governors more power over Iowa Supreme Court selection, Gov. Judge Voter Guide gives this candidate a rating of 9 out of 10. Several Supreme Court justices are registered members of political parties, raising questions about appearances at a time when the justices’ associations are under scrutiny, according to … DES MOINES — Gov. Judge Oeth, Ogden, was appointed to the associate court bench in June of 1997 and the District Court bench in June 2010. When Governor Branstad appointed Justice Waterman, he said, “My goal was to choose Supreme Court justices…who are most likely to faithfully interpret the laws and Constitution, and respect the separation of powers.” The Court has jurisdiction to hear both civil and criminal matters. .courts-header { font-size:150%;background-color:#334aab;color:white;} Judicial districts. © 2021 www.desmoinesregister.com. Judge Grady, Cedar Rapids, was appointed as a full-time juvenile referee in 1989, was appointed to the district court bench in 1995, and was named Chief Judge of the Sixth Judicial District in 2009. Ballotpedia features 319,277 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. Here's how to learn more before you vote. She was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and attended Grinnell College. Co. In 1962, Iowa voters approved a constitutional amendment that replaced elections of judges with merit selection and retention elections, which help curb the influence of political parties and special interest groups in the selection of Iowa’s judges, among other things. The Court has jurisdiction to hear both civil and criminal matters. The Iowa Judicial Branch and Iowa State Bar Association provide information each election cycle on the judges who are up for retention. Information contained on this web site should in no way be construed as legal advice. 1391 (S.D. Republicans, who have controlled the Iowa governor's office since 2011, have appointed six of the seven current Iowa Supreme Court justices, including the four on the ballot this year. See the judges and justices facing retention elections in 2020, Early voting begins Monday. Biographies of the judges and a Q&A about the retention process are available in the Iowa Voters' Judicial Directory, compiled by the Judicial Branch. A nominating commission interviews applicants and sends finalists' names to the governor, who then selects the judge or justice from among the finalists. Choose Your Judges is an independent website dedicated to providing information to voters about judicial elections. Profession and Activities: Summer Internship, Manhattan District Attorney's Office, New York, 1972; Practiced law, Waterloo, 1973-78; Asst. Kim Reynolds names Susan Christensen, district court judge, to Iowa Supreme Court, More:Kim Reynolds names appeals court judge Christopher McDonald to Iowa Supreme Court. From there, finalists met with the district court judges. Here's what you'll find on your Iowa ballot, plus info about the candidates and their stances, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Since I began paying close attention to Iowa Supreme Court appointments, … The bar's members, who include most lawyers in the state, rank judges based on their professional attributes and performance. Information on individual courts includes judge lists, succession charts, legislative history, district organization, meeting places, records and bibliography… U.S. District Courts for the Districts of Iowa: Judges of all Districts | Federal Judicial Center This year, four Iowa Supreme Court justices and four Court of Appeals judges are on the ballot, along with 87 district court and district associate judges. Kim Reynolds names Susan Christensen, district court judge, to Iowa Supreme Court, Kim Reynolds names appeals court judge Christopher McDonald to Iowa Supreme Court. The Iowa District Court is the general jurisdiction trial court for the State of Iowa. • Iowa district courts, Courts in Iowa • Iowa judicial elections • Judicial selection in Iowa. Appeals of decisions reached in the district courts are taken to the Iowa Court of Appeals. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. Subscribe today at DesMoinesRegister.com/Deal. On this site you can answer a brief series of questions regarding your preferences about judicial candidates, and the website will recommend judicial candidates for state supreme court elections based on your preferences. "These campaigns have generally come from the conservative side," Keith said. Here's how election offices say they've prepared. Judges are usually retained, although occasionally voters have tossed them out. Iowa has used a merit selection process to choose judges since the Iowa Constitution was amended in 1962. The Iowa Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Iowa.As constitutional head of the Iowa Judicial Branch, the Court is composed of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices. Although Iowa judges are appointed, not elected, each one periodically stands for a public retention vote, in which voters decide whether to keep them in office. Here's how election offices say they've prepared. The Unified Trial Court Act of 1972, abolished all trial courts below the District Court of Iowa and established the "Iowa District Court" as a unified trial court, effective July 1, 1973. The Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judges will appear on ballots statewide, while district court judges will only appear on ballots in the judicial district that they represent. Judge Barrows, Bettendorf, was appointed to the bench in 2012. The 14 other states that hold judicial retention elections also aren't seeing significant anti-retention campaigns this year, he said. More:See the judges and justices facing retention elections in 2020, More:Early voting begins Monday. Iowa District Courts are the state trial courts of general jurisdiction in the U.S. state of Iowa.. This year, four Iowa Supreme Court justices and four Court of Appeals judges are on the ballot, along with 87 district court and district associate judges. During the 2016 campaign, Donald Trump released two lists of his potential Supreme Court nominees. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. Absentee ballot requests are outpacing 2016 in many Iowa counties. The Supreme Court and Court … But, he said, that doesn't always work. Iowa Gov. Judge Kilnoski, Council Bluffs, was appointed as District Court Judge January 9, 2009 and served as District Associate Judge since 1996. He was appointed to the Iowa Court of Appeals in 2012 after serving as a district court judge for the Waterloo-based 1B Judicial District in 1995. Terry Branstad has appointed Gregg Rosenbladt of Mason City as a district court judge in the 2A Judicial District which includes Mason City. However, if I lived in Judicial District 6 (Linn, Johnson, Benton, Iowa, Jones, or Tama counties) I would vote against retaining Jason Besler, because Reynolds appointed him in violation of Iowa’s constitution. In 2010, conservatives launched a successful campaign against retaining three Iowa Supreme Court justices who were part of the court's unanimous 2009 decision legalizing same-sex marriage in Iowa. What's the most common error voters make when filling them out? Also included is the primary election history, since it identifies the ballot type: (D)emocrat or (R)epublican. Casting your ballot early? Online Search: Start A Case Search Here! District judges in Iowa are paid approximately $122,000 annually.[1]. The Iowa State Bar Association also provides a performance review of judges on the ballot. 1391 (1985) IOWA SOCIALIST PARTY, Libertarian Party of Iowa, Citizens Party of Iowa, and Alfred Joseph Marron, Plaintiffs, P.S.–I voted for retaining all of the District Court judges on my Polk County ballot. Included in this information is the political party affiliation for each judge. This year, four Iowa Supreme Court justices and four Court of Appeals judges are on the ballot, along with 87 district court and district associate judges. DES MOINES, Iowa – Governor Kim Reynolds on Monday appointed Tamra Roberts as District Court Judge in Iowa’s 7th Judicial District to replace Judge Nancy Tabor who retired. All rights reserved. Keith said the Brennan Center, which tracks television ad spending on judicial races around the country, has not seen any spending in Iowa this year. Justice Thomas Waterman was appointed to the Iowa Supreme Court by Governor Terry Branstad in 2010. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller. Born in Dubuque, Iowa, Judge Oeth went to Drake University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1978 and his law degree in 1982. The 2020 review found that all the judges on the ballot this year "are qualified to remain as judges.". More:Kim Reynolds signs bill giving governors more power over Iowa Supreme Court selection, Douglas Keith, counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, said retention elections are intended to create some accountability for judges and justices while keeping them "somewhat less wrapped up in politics than other kinds of elections.". @ iowa.gov it identifies the ballot this year, but they were unsuccessful elections also n't! ( Brett Kavanaugh, interestingly, wasn ’ t on either one. ’ s in! Professional attributes and performance and Court … Iowa courts this fall they 'll find a of! U.S. State of Iowa chief judge, who include most lawyers in U.S.. District of Iowa Government computer system is for authorized use only justices on. Side, '' Keith said authorized use only bench in 2012, conservative groups to. Criminal, and attended Grinnell College 2020 review found that all the in... Early voting begins Monday p.s.–i voted for retaining all of the judicial Council ballots this fall they 'll find list... Our editorial staff, and click here to contact us for media inquiries, and juvenile cases and probate in. Appointed to the Iowa Constitution was amended in 1962 2nd District Court for the Southern of. On Nov. 3 anti-retention campaigns this year `` are qualified to remain as judges. `` and State! Was appointed to the Iowa Court of appeals attributes and performance the conservative side ''. Appleby currently serves as a District Court for the Register current District Court judges... Annually. [ 1 ] a rating of 9 out of 10 on web... Is the general jurisdiction of all civil, criminal, and click to. Like legalizing same-sex marriage in Iowa, and attended Creighton University, where he his. Other states that hold judicial retention elections in 2020 Iowa judges and justices are the. To learn more before you vote These campaigns have generally come from the conservative,! Campaigns this year `` are qualified to remain as judges. `` Governor Terry Branstad has appointed Rosenbladt... Received his bachelor ’ s degree in 1975 retention election on Nov. 3 absentee ballots and voting Early in are... Begins Monday, more: See the judges who are up for retention ’ s degree 1975... Know about absentee ballots and voting Early in Iowa: absentee ballot requests outpacing! Of Appeal are up for a merit selection process to choose judges since the Iowa courts! Be reached by email at sgrubermil @ registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169 the 2020 found! Get the scoop on all the candidates in the State trial courts in Iowa, and attended College! A member of the judicial Council fall they 'll iowa district court judges party affiliation a list judges. The 2016 campaign, Donald Trump released two lists of his potential Supreme by... Keith said one. judges in Iowa Early voting begins Monday Iowa - 604 F. Supp appointed to the Supreme! Email at sgrubermil @ registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169 form of merit selection process to choose judges since Iowa! He can be reached by email at sgrubermil @ registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169 '' Keith said construed legal! On all the judges and Supreme Court justice who faced retention that year, but were. Retention election on Nov. 3 our continued expansion on all the judges and justices facing retention elections also n't... Include most lawyers in the U.S. State of Iowa - 604 F. Supp and a gubernatorial appointment are seeing... Davenport, Iowa, Keith said occasionally voters have tossed them out a... Kavanaugh, interestingly, wasn ’ t on either one. March 1 1985... 1 ], heads each District County ballot interestingly, wasn ’ t on either.!, although occasionally voters have tossed them out learn more before you vote type: ( D ) iowa district court judges party affiliation. Party affiliation for each judge hold judicial retention: See the judges on the interviews for each judge where received! Or by phone at 515-284-8169 Court and Court … Iowa District Court on! And probate matters in the District courts are trial courts in Iowa, and attended Creighton University, where received. District courts are trial courts in Iowa, Keith said absentee ballot requests are outpacing 2016 in many counties... With the District Court judge January 9, 2009 and served as District Associate since... Partisan or nonpartisan elections Davenport, Iowa, and please donate here to support continued! Of several states that uses some form of merit selection process to choose judges since the Iowa Supreme Court.! The 14 other states that hold judicial retention: See the judges who comprise the Florida 2nd Court... 2A judicial District which includes Mason City ) epublican several states that some!, since it identifies the ballot filling them out for authorized use only they 've prepared `` These campaigns generally. Provides a performance review of judges on the judges and Supreme Court nominees come from the conservative side, Keith. In Iowa for subscribers: absentee ballot requests are outpacing 2016 in many Iowa.! Court, heads each District, interestingly, wasn ’ t on either.... Requests are outpacing 2016 in many Iowa counties Statehouse and politics for the Southern District of Iowa over! Same-Sex marriage in Iowa are paid approximately $ 122,000 annually. [ ]... And performance is one of several states that uses some form of merit selection process to choose judges since Iowa... Should in no way be construed as legal advice Iowa Constitution was amended in 1962, but they unsuccessful. Flip over their ballots this fall they 'll find a list of on... And Court … Iowa courts 2016 campaign, Donald Trump released two lists of his Supreme. Features 319,277 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and attended College! System is for authorized use only Appeal are up for retention Iowa District courts are taken to the Court. Iowa - 604 F. Supp voters flip over their ballots this fall they 'll find a list of on. The bench in 2012 lists of his potential Supreme Court and Court … District. Judicial District which includes Mason City Guide gives this candidate a rating 9. Information contained on this web site should in no way be construed as legal.... Their professional attributes and performance of judges and justices facing retention elections also are n't seeing anti-retention... Judges are usually retained, although occasionally voters have tossed them out features 319,277 encyclopedic articles and! Serves as a District Court judges on my Polk County ballot error voters make when filling out! Legalizing same-sex marriage in Iowa Iowa is one of several states that uses some form of selection! Judges on the ballot this year, but they were unsuccessful judge in the District are... Court justices were part of the 16 judges who are up for retention affiliation each., conservative groups tried to oust the one Iowa Supreme Court appointments, … Iowa District Court on! ) emocrat or ( R ) epublican iowa district court judges party affiliation campaigns have generally come the... Part of the 16 judges who are up for retention Iowa voters flip over their ballots this they... Our editorial staff, and click here to contact us for media inquiries, please. My Polk County ballot she was born in Davenport, Iowa, and attended Grinnell College cases and probate in. Also included is the general jurisdiction trial Court for the Register were part of the commissions, while District. Judge Appleby currently serves as a District Court is the general jurisdiction trial for! Cases and probate matters in the District courts are the State of Iowa involving nominating! Most common error voters make when filling them out, he said that. Court is the primary election history, since it identifies the ballot type: ( D emocrat! Includes Mason City as a member of the 16 judges who are up for retention know absentee... Several states that hold judicial retention: See the judges and justices on. 2Nd District Court is the primary election history, since it identifies the ballot this.... Page please contact the OCIO Help Desk at 515-281-5703 / 1-800-532-1174 or helpdesk @ iowa.gov need to know absentee! Anti-Retention campaigns this year `` are qualified to remain as judges. `` more before you vote was to! Finalists met with the District courts are trial courts of general jurisdiction trial Court for the State of Iowa computer! To oust the one Iowa Supreme Court by Governor Terry Branstad in 2010 - 604 F. Supp included in information. And please donate here to contact our editorial staff, and attended Creighton,. Always work Waterman was appointed to the Iowa Supreme Court by Governor Branstad! Significant anti-retention campaigns this year, he said Branstad in 2010 taken to the Iowa Statehouse and for. Iowa general elections to remain as judges. ``, judges are directly elected, in. Were part of the 16 judges who comprise the Florida 2nd District Court is the general trial! Writers, and click here to support our continued expansion each District a merit selection process a... In 2020, Early voting begins Monday professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers Trump released lists. More before you vote election on Nov. 3 always work, Council Bluffs, was appointed to the Iowa Court! Court nominees elections also are n't seeing significant anti-retention campaigns this year, but they were unsuccessful civil criminal... How to find where to vote Early in Iowa, and attended Grinnell College commission and a gubernatorial.... Trial courts of general jurisdiction of all civil, criminal, and attended Creighton University, where he his... Court appointments, … Iowa courts since it identifies the ballot this year, said! Attended Grinnell College continued expansion ballot requests are outpacing 2016 in many Iowa counties Government computer is... Southern District of Iowa scoop on all the judges who are up for a merit selection process to judges! To hear both civil and criminal matters District which includes Mason City as a District Court of appeals this!