The Iowa Supreme Court reselected Justice Susan Larson Christensen, Harlan, as chief justice. Chief Justice Christensen’s previous term as chief justice expired December 31, 2024. Her new term begins January 1, 2025. A chief justice serves for two years.
Justice Christensen was first selected in 2020. She succeeded Chief Justice Mark Cady who passed away suddenly in 2019. Justice David Wiggins served as acting chief justice in the interim. Justice Christensen is the second woman to serve as chief justice of Iowa’s highest court.
Chief Justice Christensen has served as a judge for 17years, including seven years on the Iowa Supreme Court. She was appointed to the supreme court by Governor Kim Reynolds.
"I am once again honored to be selected by my colleagues to serve as chief justice of Iowa's court system," Chief Justice Christensen said. "In my nearly five years as chief justice I have seen the dedication of our court employees and their strong belief in our mission to administer justice under law equally to all persons. I am humbled to lead the judicial branch."
In addition to judicial duties and writing opinions, the chief justice presides over oral arguments and court conferences, sets the court’s oral argument schedule, and delivers the state of the judiciary address to the legislature each January. As administrative head of the Iowa Judicial Branch, the chief justice presides over the judicial council and works with the state court administrator to manage judicial branch operations with a FY 2025 appropriation of $201 million, 357 judicial officers, and more than 1,700 employees in all 99 counties. The chief justice also appoints members to supreme court committees and task forces to propose policies and rules of procedure and practice.
Before becoming a judge, Chief Justice Christensen practiced law in Harlan for 16 years. She currently chairs the Children's Justice State Council. She chaired the Children's Justice State Council and the Family First Task Force and served on the Supreme Court's Family Law Pro Se Forms Committee, Child Support Guidelines Review Committee, Parents Representation Standards Committee, and Guardianship/Conservatorship Task Force as well as the Children's Mental Health and Wellbeing Advisory Committee. She is a member of The Iowa State Bar Association, the Southwest Iowa Bar Association, and the Shelby County Bar Association.
Chief Justice Christensen was born and raised in Harlan, Iowa. She earned her bachelor's degree from Judson College in 1988 and her law degree from Creighton University School of Law in 1991. She is married with five children and nine grandchildren.