Iowa Supreme Court on the Road Visits
The Iowa Supreme Court began going on the road to hear oral arguments around the state in May 2011. These community visits are an opportunity for more Iowans to see firsthand how the justice system and the rule of law operate to settle disputes. During the community visits, the seven supreme court justices go to area schools to speak with students and discuss the three branches of government and the role of the courts. School visits build upon what students have studied in class, lead to a common understanding of the courts system, and encourage students to learn more about the work of courts and the vital link between the rule of law and democracy.
The supreme court goes on the road once in the spring and twice in the fall. The court also hears oral arguments at Drake University Law School in the spring and the University of Iowa College of Law in the fall. Additionally, the court hears evening oral arguments in Des Moines in the Judicial Branch Building once a year.
Oral arguments are open to the public, but many people cannot make the trip to Des Moines to watch the proceedings. When the supreme court hears goes on the road, they hear oral arguments in the evening so as many people as possible may attend. The supreme court usually hears oral arguments in the local high school auditorium because the school is conveniently located and there is plenty of parking. The court has also convened in college auditoriums and community fine arts centers. In addition, the court heard arguments at Music Man Square in Mason City, the Wieting Theatre in Toledo, The Donna Reed Theater in Denison, and the Grand Theater in Keokuk.
After the oral arguments, the court joins the audience in a reception sponsored by the local bar association. A large percentage of the audience usually stays for the reception to meet with the justices informally and ask questions.
Between May 19, 2011, and April 15, 2025, the supreme court heard oral arguments in 39 different communities:
2011—Cedar Rapids, Mason City, and Carroll,
2012—Council Bluffs, Bettendorf, Ottumwa, and Waterloo
2013—Sioux City, Dubuque, Fort Dodge, and Burlington
2014—Clarinda, Toledo, Iowa City, and Storm Lake
2015—Creston, Decorah, Newton, and Harlan
2016—Ames, Clinton, Keokuk, and Spencer,
2017—Charles City, Davenport, and Cedar Falls,
2018—Knoxville and Red Oak,
2019—Forest City and Muscatine
2021—Oskaloosa
2022—Denison
2023—Perry, Waverly, and Marion
2024—Bondurant, Harlan, and Marshalltown
2025—Lamoni
The supreme court did not hear any cases outside of the Judicial Branch Building in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Coinciding with oral arguments, justices have visited 247 different high schools, universities, and colleges.
Watch the Iowa Judicial Branch website for the announcement of upcoming community visits by the supreme court.