IOWA - STATE COURT ORGANIZATION PROFILE

• NCJ Number: 54954
• Author(s): E S GURNY
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 71 pages
• Grant Number(s): 77-DF-99-0052
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: American Bar Association; National Ctr for State Courts
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: STATE COURT ORGANIZATION PROFILE SERIES

Annotation

THIS REPORT, ONE IN A SERIES CONTAINING PROFILES OF NONFEDERAL COURT SYSTEMS, DESCRIBES THE ORGANIZATION OF STATE COURTS IN IOWA.

Abstract

THE COURT SYSTEM INCLUDES A SUPREME COURT, AN INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS, AND A UNIFIED TRIAL COURT KNOWN AS THE DISTRICT COURT. THE UNIFIED TRIAL COURT ACT WAS APPROVED BY THE STATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN 1972 AND REPLACED JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURTS, MAYOR COURTS, POLICE COURTS, AND MUNICIPAL COURTS WITH A UNIFIED SYSTEM OF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATES AND DISTRICT ASSOCIATE JUDGES. SUPERVISORY AND ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL OVER THE ENTIRE STATE JUDICIARY IS EXERCISED BY THE SUPREME COURT. IT HAS GENERAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION IN BOTH CIVIL AND CRIMINAL CASES AND HAS ORIGINAL JURISDICTION IN SUCH CASES AS REAPPORTIONMENT, BAR DISCIPLINE, AND THE ISSUANCE OF TEMPORARY INJUNCTIONS. THE COURT OF APPEALS IS AUTHORIZED TO REVIEW ALL CIVIL AND CRIMINAL ACTIONS, POSTCONVICTION REMEDY PROCEEDINGS, SMALL CLAIMS ACTIONS, WRITS, ORDERS, AND OTHER PROCESSES TRANSFERRED TO IT BY THE SUPREME COURT. THE UNIFIED TRIAL COURT HAS GENERAL AND ORIGINAL JURISDICTION OVER ALL ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS. IOWA IS DIVIDED INTO EIGHT MULTICOUNTY JUDICIAL DISTRICTS FOR PURPOSES OF ADMINISTRATION AND JUDICIAL FUNCTIONS. PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN INSTITUTED THAT DEAL WITH THE QUALIFICATIONS, SELECTION, AND TERMS OF THE JUDICIARY; THE DISCIPLINE AND REMOVAL OF JUDGES; COMPENSATION; RETIREMENT AGE AND ACTIVE SERVICE; AND CONTINUING EDUCATION. THERE IS NO STATEWIDE NONJUDICIAL PERSONNEL SYSTEM. THE DETAILED PROFILE OF THE COURT SYSTEM CONCERNS THE COURT OF LAST RESORT, THE INTERMEDIATE APPELLATE COURT, THE TRIAL COURT OF GENERAL JURISDICTION, TRIAL COURTS OF LIMITED JURISDICTION, JUDGES, PARAJUDICIAL OFFICERS, NONJUDICIAL PERSONNEL, JUDICIAL POLICYMAKING AND ADVISORY BODIES, COURT ADMINISTRATION, COURT FINANCING, AND COURT RECORDS AND STATISTICS. SOURCES OF INFORMATION USED TO PREPARE THE PROFILE ARE LISTED. ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS OF THE COURT SYSTEM ARE INCLUDED. DATA ON SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE IOWA COURT SYSTEM AND AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION STANDARDS RELATING TO COURT ORGANIZATION ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)