IOWA'S MAGISTRATE SYSTEM - THE AFTERMATH OF REFORM

• NCJ Number: 25340
• Journal: Judicature Volume: 58 Issue: 8 Dated: (MARCH 1975) Pages: 380-389
• Author(s): J GREEN; R M ROSS; J R SCHMIDHAUSER
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: American Judicature Soc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

EFFECTS OF CHANGES OF IOWA'S LOWER COURT REORGANIZATION UNDER THE 1972 UNIFIED TRIAL COURT ACT, WHICH SEATED 196 PART-TIME JUDICIAL MAGISTRATES, FIVE FULL-TIME MAGISTRATES, AND 24 ASSOCIATE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES.

Abstract

THE JUDICIAL POSITIONS NOTED ABOVE REPLACED A SYSTEM OF JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURTS, MAYORS' COURTS, POLICE COURTS, AND MUNICIPAL COURTS. THE REFORM ACT SERVED TO PROFESSIONALIZE THE BENCH, IMPLEMENTED ANNUAL SALARIES IN LIEU OF A FEE SYSTEM, AND ACHIEVED STRUCTURAL UNIFICATION BY PLACING THE MAGISTRATES AND DISTRICT ASSOCIATE JUDGES UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE DISTRICT COURT. THIS ARTICLE FOCUSES ON A COMPARISON OF THE NEW MAGISTRATES AND THE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE UNDER THE OLD SYSTEM, COMPARING THEM PARTICULARLY IN TERMS OF BACKGROUND, RECRUITEMNT AND SELECTION, DECISION PATTERNS, AND THEIR OWN EVALUATION OF THE NEW MAGISTRATE SYSTEM. A QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY WAS USED AS THE INSTRUMENT OF MEASURE.