DES MOINES, IOWA (March 29, 2019) — After completing public interviews of all 30 applicants, the State Judicial Nominating Commission has selected a slate of six nominees to fill the two vacancies on the Iowa Court of Appeals that occurred when Chief Judge David Danilson retired on January 4, 2019, and Judge Christopher McDonald filled the Supreme Court vacancy on March 7, 2019.

The nominees are:

DES MOINES, IOWA (March 25, 2019) — On Friday, April 5, at 3PM, Governor Kim Reynolds will administer the oath of office to Iowa Supreme Court Justice Christopher McDonald in a public ceremony in the supreme court courtroom in the Judicial Branch Building, 1111 E Court Ave, Des Moines. Justice McDonald will fill the vacancy that resulted from the resignation of Justice Daryl Hecht.

Des Moines, Iowa (January 24, 2019) — Nineteen Iowans have applied to fill the Iowa Supreme Court vacancy that occurred upon Justice Daryl Hecht’s retirement December 13, 2018.

Des Moines, September 7, 2017—  The Iowa Judicial Branch will join the Iowa Department of Education and The Iowa State Bar Association to present a Constitution Day program for Iowa high school students on Wednesday, September 20. Students will attend the oral arguments in Des Moines and students from around the state will be encouraged to watch the live streaming of two Iowa Supreme Court oral arguments. Both cases involve constitutional issues.

Des Moines, August 29, 2017— On Tuesday, September 19, the Iowa Supreme Court will hear oral arguments at the Des Moines Hoover High School auditorium, 4800 Aurora Avenue. The oral arguments are open to the public and will begin at 7 p.m.

The court will hear attorneys argue the case of State of Iowa v. Bion Blake Ingram, from Jasper County.

Des Moines, July 12, 2017— The commission charged by the Iowa Supreme Court to identify and remove barriers to civil justice for low-income and disadvantaged Iowans has issued its initial report. The Access to Justice Commission report identifies and assesses the current and future needs of low-income Iowans in civil matters, makes short-term recommendations, and sets long term goals.

Des Moines, June 28, 2017— Today, the Iowa Supreme Court approved the Fiscal Year 2018 Iowa Judicial Branch budget that begins July 1, 2017. The budget continues the statewide hiring freeze from the last fiscal year that resulted in more than 150 vacant positions. The judicial branch will continue to keep vacant positions open and only fill the most critical positions in FY 18.

Des Moines, January 26, 2017   Discover some of the special features in the Iowa Judicial Branch Building and the interesting stories behind them by watching a new video tour online, and then come and see the building for yourself.

Des Moines, January 6, 2017— On Wednesday, January 11, 2017, at 10 a.m. in the House Chambers, Chief Justice Mark Cady of the Iowa Supreme Court will address a joint convention of the General Assembly on the State of the Judiciary.

Des Moines, October 6, 2015– On Thursday, October 15, members of the Iowa Supreme Court will meet with students from six high schools and one college to discuss the Iowa judicial system and the role of the courts. The justices will visit high school students in Newton, Grinnell, Monroe, Bondurant, Saylor Township, and Williamsburg, and meet with college students on the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Newton Campus.

High school visit schedule for Thursday, October 15

8:30 a.m. Chief Justice Cady Grinnell High School

8:58 a.m. Justice Hecht PCM High School

9:05 a.m. Justice Appel Bondurant-Farrar High School

9:45 a.m. Justice Mansfield Newton High School

9:45 a.m. Justice Wiggins Saydel High School

10:00 a.m. Justice Waterman Williamsburg High School

11:00 a.m. Justice Zager DMACC real time reporting students, Newton Campus

In addition to the school visits, the supreme court will hold a special session in Newton on Wednesday evening, October 14, at 7:00 p.m., in the Newton High School Center for Performance, 800 East 4th Street South, Newton. During the special session, the court will hear oral arguments in one case. The oral arguments are open to the public. A public reception with the justices in the Newton High School cafeteria will follow the oral arguments.

Special session

Wednesday, October 14, 2015, at 7:00 p.m.

Newton High School Center for Performance

800 East 4th Street South

Newton, Iowa

 

The Iowa Supreme Court will hear lawyers argue in one case:

Hutchison, et al. v Warren County Board of Supervisors, et al.:

Former employees of Warren County contend the Warren County Board of Supervisors violated Iowa's "open meetings law," Iowa Code chapter 21, when individual supervisors met separately with the county administrator, serving as a go-between, to deliberate a proposed restructuring of the county workforce. The district court determined there was no open meetings violation because there was no gathering of a majority of supervisors. A question before the supreme court is whether "walking quorums" or "serial communications" constitute a "gathering" within the definition of "meeting" in Iowa's open meetings law.

Public reception

There will be a public reception in the Newton High School cafeteria following the oral arguments.

 

For more information about the oral arguments

Attorneys' briefs for the case and a guide to oral arguments are posted on the Iowa Judicial Branch website at:

http://www.iowacourts.gov/About_the_Courts/Supreme_Court/Offsite_Oral_Arguments_Newton

Note to news media

News media are invited to attend the oral arguments. Court rules apply regarding still camera, video camera, and audio recording devices used during the oral arguments. Information on expanded media coverage is available on the Iowa Judicial Branch Website at: http://www.iowacourts.gov/For_the_Media/Expanded_News_Media_Coverage/

Chapter 25 of the Iowa Court Rules regarding cameras and other electronic devices in courtrooms is available on the Iowa Legislature website at https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ACO/CR/LINC/04-30-2014.chapter.25.pdf .

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