The Iowa Judicial Branch dedicates
itself to providing independent and accessible forums for the fair and prompt
resolution of disputes, administering justice under law equally to all people. — Iowa Judicial Branch Mission Statement
Our mission
is of vital importance. Each year our
judges and court staff work to address hundreds of thousands of court cases,
many of which involve the critical issues of our time—drug addiction, property
rights, child abuse, broken families, civil rights, and more. Look behind the legal procedures and
arguments of each case and you will likely find an ordinary person—someone's
parent, sibling, neighbor, or friend, trying to redress an injury, resolve a
conflict, or protect a Constitutional right.
This
section of the site is designed to help people of all ages learn more about the
important mission of the courts, the people who devote themselves to this
mission, and how it affects all of us.
In this section you will find:
- About
the Courts. A step-by-step explanation of court procedures and a
description of the structure and organization of Iowa's court system.
- About
Judges. An explanation of the role of a judge
and judicial decision making, a description of Iowa's judicial selection
and retention procedures, and a discussion about how judicial independence
guarantees fair and impartial courts while maintaining judicial
accountability.
- Iowa Courts'
History. Information about the rich and proud
history of Iowa's courts, including early landmark civil rights cases and
modern reforms.
- Visit a Courthouse. Information about visiting a courthouse and court
proceedings, a brief description of each of Iowa's courthouses, and
information about the new Judicial Branch Building in Des Moines,
including a pamphlet for a self-guided tour and instructions for how to
arrange a group tour of the building
- Speakers Bureau. Information about requesting judges and court staff who are
available to speak to your community organization, government agency or
service group. They also can speak
to college and K-12 students on a variety of topics.
- Complaints. Here you'll find information and forms you'll need if you
wish to file a complaint alleging unethical conduct by an attorney, judge
or court employee. These forms and
procedures are not a substitute for an appeal and they will not alter the
outcome of a court order or judgment.
Brochures:
A Guide to Iowa's Court System
is a 20 page overview of Iowa's court structure, civil, criminal and appellate
procedure and Iowa's case load.
Courts at a Glance is an 11 page summary of court
structure and procedure laid out in an easy- to-follow format.
Invite a
Judge to Speak to Your Class or Group
Tools
Links on this page go to
files that may be unusable if you do not have the proper programs installed on
your computer. Visit the Site
Tools and Accessibility page for any plug-ins or programs your may need.
