The judiciary of Iowa is a branch of the

Government of Iowa Iowa () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wiscon ...

that interprets and applies the laws of Iowa, to ensure

equal justice under law Equal justice under law is a phrase engraved on the West Pediment, above the front entrance of the United States Supreme Court building in Washington D.C. It is also a societal ideal that has influenced the American legal system. The phrase wa ...

, and to provide a mechanism for dispute resolution. Article V of the

Constitution of the State of Iowa Iowa () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wiscon ...

defines the judiciary as comprising a Supreme Court, district courts, and any inferior courts established by the

General Assembly A general assembly or general meeting is a meeting of all the members of an organization or shareholders of a company. Specific examples of general assembly include: Churches * General Assembly (presbyterian church), the highest court of presb ...

Iowa Supreme Court

The Iowa Supreme Court is the

highest court A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts in most legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, apex court, and high (or final) court of appeal. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...

in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...

Iowa Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to th ...

. As constitutional head of the Iowa Judicial Branch, the Court is composed of a Chief Justice and six Associate 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.

Duties

The seven-member Iowa Supreme Court has many important responsibilities. * The Court is the "court of last resort" or the highest court in the Iowa state court system. Its opinions are binding on all other Iowa state courts. * The Iowa Supreme Court has the sole power to admit persons to practice as attorneys in the courts of Iowa, to prescribe rules to supervise attorney conduct, and to discipline attorneys. * The Court is responsible for promulgating rules of procedure and practice used throughout the state courts. * The Iowa Supreme Court has supervisory and administrative control over the judicial branch and over all judicial officers and court employees.

Nomination of Justices

Justices are appointed by the Governor of Iowa, governor from a list of nominees submitted by the Missouri Plan, State Judicial Nominating Commission. A justice serves an initial term of office that is one year after appointment and until January 1 following the next judicial retention election after expiration of such year. The regular term of office of justices retained at election is eight years. A justice must retire upon reaching the age of 72. The justices elect the chief justice.

State Courts inferior to the Supreme Court

Iowa District Courts

Iowa District Courts are the State court (United States), state trial courts of general jurisdiction in the

. They have original jurisdiction in civil cases with any amount in controversy; felony Criminal law, criminal cases, domestic relations, family law, and cases involving Minor (law), minors (including adoption, Dependant, dependency, juvenile delinquency, and probate cases.) District judges have the authority to hear any case within the district. Felony criminal case#Criminal trial, criminal cases, adoptions, state administration issues, and many other matters come before these judges. These judges are appointed by the Governor (United States), governor, from a list of nominees from a state nominating commission. The term of office#states and territories, term for a district judge is six years.

State Judges Inferior to the District Courts

Lower courts are also established as subsidiary to the District Courts. Associate juvenile judges only have subject-matter jurisdiction, jurisdiction over juvenile court matters. Associate probate judges have limited jurisdiction to probate cases. Judicial magistrate#State courts, magistrates primarily serve their home county (United States), county and have subject-matter jurisdiction, jurisdiction over simple misdemeanors, local infractions, and small claims. District associate judges have the same subject-matter jurisdiction, jurisdiction as judicial magistrates, with additional authority to hear more serious misdemeanors, civil suits up to $10,000, and certain Minor (law), juvenile cases.

District Court Jurisdictions

There are 8 judicial districts, each encompassing five or more of List of counties in Iowa, Iowa's 99 counties.Iowa Judicial Branch
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References

External links

More information on the Supreme Court JusticesWebsite of the judicial branch of Iowa
{{DEFAULTSORT:Iowa Iowa state courts State judiciaries in the United States, Iowa simple:Iowa Supreme Court