News Release

January 19, 2010

 

Contact: Steve Davis, Court Communications Officer, (515)725-8058

 

Iowa Supreme Court Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Revised Code of Judicial Conduct

 

Des Moines, January 19, 2010—Today, the Iowa Supreme Court released a proposal to revise the Iowa Code of Judicial Conduct—the code of ethics for Iowa judges and magistrates.  The court seeks public comment on the proposal.  This proposal is substantially similar to the American Bar Association's 2007 Model Code of Judicial Conduct.  However, the Iowa proposal includes some modifications tailored for certain requirements specific to Iowa judges.  If adopted, this proposal would be the first comprehensive update of the Iowa Code of Judicial Conduct since it was first adopted in the 1970s.

The proposal is the product of a six-month review by a fourteen-person supreme court advisory committee, consisting of Iowa judges and attorneys. The study committee followed the supreme court's direction to "strive to recommend a new code of conduct that is substantially similar to the ABA Model Code except where deviation is or may be necessary to conform the model code to Iowa's merit selection and retention election procedures and Iowa's gift and election laws."

Eleven states have already adopted new codes of judicial conduct based on the ABA Model Code and 21 states are currently reviewing the model code.

Any interested individual or organization may submit comments to the supreme court by March 19, 2010. The proposed Iowa Code of Judicial Conduct and instructions for submitting comments can be located at www.iowacourts.gov/Supreme_Court/Orders/.

  

 

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2010

Iowa Supreme Court

1111 East Court Avenue

Des Moines, IA 50319

515-281-3952