News Release
January 20,
2010
Contact: Steve
Davis, Court Communications Officer, (515)725-8058
Larson Named Chief Judge of Fourth Judicial District
Des
Moines, January 20, 2010—
The Iowa Supreme Court has appointed District Judge
Jeffrey L. Larson, Harlan, as chief judge of the Fourth Judicial District.
Judge Larson succeeds Judge Charles L. Smith who retired January 14, 2010.
"Judge Larson will make a fine chief judge," Chief
Justice Ternus said. "He respects the views of others and the court is
confident that he will be a strong leader in the Fourth Judicial District."
Judge Larson received a bachelor's degree from the University of
South Dakota in 1982 and a law degree from the University of Iowa Law School in
1985. Judge Larson was appointed to the bench in 2003. Prior to his
appointment, he served as Shelby County Attorney from 1987-2003 and worked in
private practice in Harlan from 1985 to 2003. Judge Larson is active in the
Fourth District Courts and Community Committee.
"It is an honor to be selected as Chief Judge," Judge Larson
said. "I look forward to the opportunities and I will work hard for our
district while maintaining the high standards of the judicial branch. I
recognize the unique challenges we face today, but I am confident we can meet
them. Judge Charles Smith has been a model chief judge and his service has
been appreciated by all of us in the Fourth District."
As chief judge, Judge Larson will supervise all judicial officers
and court employees in the district, supervise the performance of
administrative and judicial business in the district, set the times and places
of holding court, designate presiding judges, and serve on the judicial
council, which advises the supreme court on administrative matters affecting
the trial courts. In addition, he will continue to preside over cases.
The Fourth Judicial District is located in southwest Iowa and is
comprised of nine counties: Audubon, Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills,
Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Shelby. The district has eight district
judges, four district associate judges, 16 part-time magistrates, and 90
employees, with an operating budget for the current fiscal year of
approximately $10 million. A total of 77,602 cases were filed in the Fourth
District last year.
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2010
Iowa
Supreme Court
1111
East Court Avenue
Des
Moines, IA 50319
515-281-3952
