DISTRICT ASSOCIATE JUDGES

Iowa Code tit. XV, ch. 602, art. 6, pt. 3

in effect

Iowa Code § 602.6301 Number and apportionment of district associate judges.

602.6301. Number and apportionment of district associate judges. 1. The supreme court shall prescribe, subject to the restrictions of this section, a formula to determine the number of district associate judges who will serve in each judicial election district. The formula shall be based upon a model that measures and applies an estimated case-related workload formula of judicial officers, and shall account for administrative duties, travel time, and other judicial duties not related to a specific case. A district associate judge appointed pursuant to section 602.6302 or 602.6307 shall not be counted for purposes of this section and the reduction of a district associate judge pursuant to section 602.6303 also shall not be counted for purposes of this section. 2. For purposes of this section, “vacancy” means the death, resignation, retirement, or removal of a district associate judge, or the failure of a district associate judge to be retained in office at the judicial election, or an increase in judgeships under the formula prescribed in subsection 1. 3. In those judicial election districts having more district associate judges than the number of judgeships specified by the formula prescribed in subsection 1, vacancies shall not be filled. 4. In those judicial election districts having fewer or the same number of district associate judges as the number of judgeships specified by the formula prescribed in subsection 1, vacancies shall be filled as the vacancies occur. 5. In those judicial districts that contain more than one judicial election district, a vacancy in a judicial election district shall not be filled if the total number of district associate judges in all judicial election districts within the judicial district equals or exceeds the aggregate number of judgeships to which all of the judicial election districts of the judicial district are authorized by the formula in subsection 1. 6. An incumbent district associate judge shall not be removed from office because of a reduction in the number of authorized judgeships specified by the formula prescribed in subsection 1. 83 Acts, ch 186, §7301, 10201; 94 Acts, ch 1127, §2; 96 Acts, ch 1068, §1; 98 Acts, ch 1047, §58; 98 Acts, ch 1115, §12; 2003 Acts, ch 151, §40; 2006 Acts, ch 1060, §12023 Acts, ch 114, §6

Iowa Code § 602.6302 Appointment of district associate judge in lieu of magistrates.

602.6302. Appointment of district associate judge in lieu of magistrates. 1. The chief judge of the judicial district may designate by order of substitution that a district associate judge be appointed pursuant to this section in lieu of magistrates appointed under section 602.6403, subject to the following limitations: a. The county in which the district associate judge is to be appointed, or the counties in which the district associate judge is to be appointed in combination, must have an apportionment of three or more magistrates. b. The substitution must not result in a lack of a resident district associate judge or magistrate in one or more of the counties. c. The substitution must be approved by the supreme court. d. A majority of district judges in that judicial election district, or in the case of an appointment involving more than one judicial election district in the same judicial district, a majority of the district judges in each judicial election district, must vote in favor of the substitution and find that the substitution will provide more timely and efficient performance of judicial business within that judicial election district. 2. An order of substitution shall not take effect unless a copy of the order is received by the chairperson of the county magistrate appointing commission or commissions and the governor no later than May 31 of the year in which the substitution is to take effect. A copy of the order shall also be sent to the state court administrator. 3. For a county in which a substitution order is in effect, the number of magistrates actually appointed pursuant to section 602.6403 shall be reduced by three for each district associate judge substituted under this section. However, if the substitution order is for a district associate judge appointed to more than one county, the reduction of three magistrates shall be as provided in the order of the chief judge of the judicial district. Upon a subsequent reduction in the apportionment of magistrates to the county or counties, the magistrate appointing commission shall further reduce the number of magistrates appointed. 4. a. Except as provided in subsections 1 through 3, a substitution shall not increase or decrease the number of magistrates authorized by this article. b. A substitution shall not be made where the apportionment of magistrates to a county is insufficient to permit the full reduction in appointments of magistrates as required by subsection 3. 5. If an apportionment by the state court administrator pursuant to section 602.6401 reduces the number of magistrates in the county or counties to less than the number required to be apportioned to allow a substitution order pursuant to subsection 1, or if a majority of the district judges in the judicial election district or districts determines that a substitution is no longer desirable, then the substituted office shall be terminated. However, a reversion pursuant to this subsection, irrespective of cause, shall not take effect until the substitute district associate judge fails to be retained in office at a judicial election or otherwise leaves office, whether voluntarily or involuntarily. Upon the termination of office of that district associate judge, appointments shall be made pursuant to section 602.6403 as necessary to reestablish terms of office as provided in section 602.6403, subsection 4. 83 Acts, ch 186, §7302, 10201; 86 Acts, ch 1015, §1 – 3; 89 Acts, ch 114, §1; 2022 Acts, ch 1033, §5

Iowa Code § 602.6303 Appointment of magistrates in lieu of district associate judge.

602.6303. Appointment of magistrates in lieu of district associate judge. 1. The chief judge of the judicial district may designate by order of substitution that three magistrates be appointed pursuant to this section in lieu of the appointment of a district associate judge under section 602.6304, subject to the following limitations: a. The substitution shall not result in the judicial district receiving more magistrates than are authorized under the magistrate formula in section 602.6401. b. The substitution shall be approved by the supreme court. c. A majority of district judges in that judicial election district, or in the case of an appointment involving more than one judicial election district in the same judicial district, a majority of the district judges in each judicial election district, must vote in favor of the substitution and find that the substitution will provide more timely and efficient performance of judicial business within that judicial election district. 2. An order of substitution shall not take effect unless a copy of the order is received by the chairperson of the county magistrate appointing commission or commissions and the governor no later than May 31 of the year in which the substitution is to take effect. The order shall designate the county of appointment for each magistrate. A copy of the order shall also be sent to the state court administrator. 3. For a county in which a substitution order is in effect, the number of district associate judges actually appointed pursuant to section 602.6304 shall be reduced by one for each substitution order in effect. 4. Except as provided in subsections 1 through 3, a substitution shall not increase or decrease the number of district associate judges authorized by this article. 5. If a majority of the district judges in a judicial election district determines that a substitution is no longer desirable, then all three magistrate positions shall be terminated. However, a reversion pursuant to this subsection shall not take effect until the terms of the three magistrates expire. Upon the termination of the magistrate positions created under this section, an appointment shall be made to reestablish the term of office for a district associate judge as provided in sections 602.6304 and 602.6305. 2006 Acts, ch 1060, §2; 2022 Acts, ch 1033, §6

Iowa Code § 602.6304 Appointment and resignation of district associate judges.

602.6304. Appointment and resignation of district associate judges. 1. The district associate judges authorized by sections 602.6301 and 602.6302 shall be appointed by the governor from persons nominated by the district judicial nominating commission in the same manner as district judges under chapter 46. 2. A district associate judge who seeks to resign from the office of district associate judge shall notify in writing the governor, the chief judge of the judicial district, and the state commissioner of elections as to the district associate judge’s intention to resign and the effective date of the resignation. 3. When a vacancy occurs or will occur within one hundred twenty days in the office of the district associate judge, the state commissioner of elections shall forthwith so notify the governor. The governor shall call a meeting of the commission within ten days after such notice. If the governor fails to do so, the chief justice shall call such meeting. 83 Acts, ch 186, §7304, 10201; 86 Acts, ch 1015, §4; 98 Acts, ch 1115, §13; 2003 Acts, ch 151, §41, 64; 2022 Acts, ch 1033, §7

Iowa Code § 602.6305 Term, retention, qualifications.

602.6305. Term, retention, qualifications. 1. District associate judges shall serve initial terms and shall stand for retention in office within the judicial election districts of their appointment at the judicial election under sections 46.16 through 46.24. 2. A person does not qualify for appointment to the office of district associate judge unless the person is at the time of appointment licensed to practice law in Iowa and will be able, measured by the person’s age at the time of appointment, to complete the initial term of office prior to reaching age seventy-eight. A nominee to the office of district associate judge must reside in the judicial election district to which the nominee is nominated or in a contiguous county to the judicial election district to which the nominee is nominated. 3. A district associate judge must be a resident of the judicial election district or a resident of a county contiguous with the judicial election district in which the office is held before assuming office and during the entire term of office. A district associate judge shall serve within the judicial district in which appointed, as directed by the chief judge, and is subject to reassignment under section 602.6108. 4. District associate judges shall qualify for office as provided in chapter 63 for district judges. 83 Acts, ch 186, §7305, 10201; 86 Acts, ch 1015, §5; 89 Acts, ch 114, §2; 89 Acts, ch 212, §2; 89 Acts, ch 296, §83; 2003 Acts, ch 151, §42; 2004 Acts, ch 1101, §83, 99, 102; 2011 Acts, ch 78, §4; 2022 Acts, ch 1033, §8; 2025 Acts, ch 101, §2, 9, 15 2025 amendment to subsection 2 applies to judicial officers retiring on or after July 1, 2025; 2025 Acts, ch 101, §15 Subsections 1 – 3 amended

Iowa Code § 602.6306 Jurisdiction, procedure, appeals.

602.6306. Jurisdiction, procedure, appeals. 1. District associate judges have the jurisdiction provided in section 602.6405 for magistrates, and when exercising that jurisdiction shall employ magistrates’ practice and procedure. 2. District associate judges also have jurisdiction in civil actions for money judgment where the amount in controversy does not exceed ten thousand dollars; jurisdiction over involuntary commitment, treatment, or hospitalization proceedings under chapters 125 and 229; jurisdiction of indictable misdemeanors, class “D” felony violations, and other felony arraignments; jurisdiction to enter a temporary or emergency order of protection under chapter 235F or 236, and to make court appointments and set hearings in criminal matters; jurisdiction to enter orders in probate which do not require notice and hearing and to set hearings in actions under chapter 633 or 633A; and the jurisdiction provided in section 232.3A, 600B.41A, or 602.7101 when designated as a judge of the juvenile court. While presiding in these subject matters a district associate judge shall employ district judges’ practice and procedure. 3. When a district judge is unable to serve as a result of temporary incapacity, a district associate judge may, by order of the chief judge of the judicial district enrolled in the records of the clerk of the district court, temporarily exercise any judicial authority within the jurisdiction of a district judge during the time of incapacity with respect to the matters or classes of matters specified in that order. 4. Appeals from judgments or orders of district associate judges while exercising the jurisdiction of magistrates shall be governed by the laws relating to appeals from judgments and orders of magistrates. Appeals from judgments or orders of district associate judges while exercising any other jurisdiction shall be governed by the laws relating to appeals from judgments or orders of district judges. 83 Acts, ch 186, §7306, 10201; 86 Acts, ch 1012, §2; 91 Acts, ch 108, §7; 94 Acts, ch 1122, §1; 96 Acts, ch 1131, §2; 2002 Acts, ch 1110, §1; 2006 Acts, ch 1030, §75; 2014 Acts, ch 1107, §20; 2023 Acts, ch 123, §13; 2024 Acts, ch 1043, §108

Iowa Code § 602.6307 Appointment of district associate judge in lieu of full-time associate juvenile judge.

602.6307. Appointment of district associate judge in lieu of full-time associate juvenile judge. 1. The chief judge of a judicial district may designate by order of substitution that a district associate judge be appointed pursuant to this section in lieu of a full-time associate juvenile judge appointed under section 602.7103B, subject to the following limitations: a. An existing full-time juvenile court judgeship has become vacant or is anticipated to become vacant within one hundred twenty days of an order of substitution. b. The supreme court approves the substitution upon a determination that the substitution will provide a more timely and efficient performance of judicial business within that judicial election district without diminishing the efficiency and performance of the juvenile court. 2. If a district associate judge is substituted for a full-time associate juvenile judge pursuant to this section, the judicial district shall make every effort to grant the juvenile court docket priority over other dockets including granting the highest scheduling priority to juvenile court proceedings involving child custody, termination of parental rights, and child in need of assistance cases. 3. If the chief judge determines the substitution order is no longer desirable, then the order shall be terminated. However, a reversion pursuant to this subsection, irrespective of cause, shall not take effect until the substitute district associate judge fails to be retained in office at a judicial election or otherwise leaves office, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, and the office becomes vacant. 2006 Acts, ch 1060, §3

Source: Iowa Legislature (legis.iowa.gov)URL: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/law/iowaCode/sections?codeChapter=602&year=2026Fetched: 10/20/2026