Iowa Code § 602.9201 Short title.
602.9201. Short title.
This part may be cited and referred to as the “Iowa Senior Judge Act”.
[C81, §605A.21] 83 Acts, ch 186, §10202(2)CS83, §602.9201
IOWA SENIOR JUDGE ACT
Iowa Code tit. XV, ch. 602, art. 9, pt. 2
in effectIowa Code § 602.9202 Definitions.
602.9202. Definitions.
As used in this part unless the context otherwise requires:
1. “Retired senior judge” means a senior judge who has been retired from a senior judgeship as provided in section 602.9207.
2. “Roster of senior judges” means the roster maintained by the clerk of the supreme court under section 602.9203, subsection 3.
3. “Senior judge” means a supreme court judge, court of appeals judge, district court judge, district associate judge, full-time associate juvenile judge, or full-time associate probate judge, who meets the requirements of section 602.9203 and who has not been retired or removed from the roster of senior judges under section 602.9207 or 602.9208.
4. “Senior judge retirement age” means eighty-four years of age or, if the senior judge is reappointed as a senior judge for an additional one-year term upon attaining eighty-four years of age, and then to a succeeding one-year term, pursuant to section 602.9203, eighty-six years of age.
5. “Twelve-month period” means each successive one-year period commencing on the date a retired judge becomes a senior judge and while the judge continues to be a senior judge.
[C81, §605A.22] 83 Acts, ch 186, §10202(2) CS83, §602.9202 2002 Acts, ch 1135, §56; 2008 Acts, ch 1191, §149; 2012 Acts, ch 1021, §106; 2012 Acts, ch 1138, §75; 2025 Acts, ch 101, §12, 15 2025 amendment to subsection 4 applies to judicial officers retiring on or after July 1, 2025; 2025 Acts, ch 101, §15 Subsection 4 amended
Iowa Code § 602.9203 Senior judgeship requirements — appointment and term.
602.9203. Senior judgeship requirements — appointment and term.
1. A supreme court judge, court of appeals judge, district judge, district associate judge, full-time associate juvenile judge, or full-time associate probate judge, who qualifies under subsection 2 may become a senior judge by filing with the clerk of the supreme court a written election in the form specified by the supreme court. The election shall be filed within six months of the date of retirement.
2. A judicial officer referred to in subsection 1 may be appointed, at the discretion of the supreme court, for a two-year term as a senior judge if the judicial officer meets all of the following requirements:
a. Retires from office on or after July 1, 1977, whether or not the judicial officer is of mandatory retirement age.
b. Meets the minimum requirements for entitlement to an annuity as specified in section 602.9106. However, a judge who elects to retire prior to attaining the age of sixty-five and who has not had twenty years of consecutive service, may serve as a senior judge, but shall not be paid an annuity pursuant to section 602.9204 until attaining age sixty-five.
c. Agrees in writing on a form prescribed by the supreme court to be available as long as the judicial officer is a senior judge to perform judicial duties as assigned by the supreme court for an aggregate period of thirteen weeks out of each successive twelve-month period.
d. Submits evidence to the satisfaction of the supreme court that as of the date of retirement the judicial officer does not suffer from a permanent physical or mental disability which would substantially interfere with the performance of duties agreed to under paragraph “c” of this subsection.
e. Submits evidence to the satisfaction of the supreme court that since the date of retirement the judicial officer has not engaged in the practice of law.
3. The clerk of the supreme court shall maintain a book entitled “Roster of Senior Judges”, and shall enter in the book the name of each judicial officer who files a timely election under subsection 1 and qualifies under subsection 2. A person shall be a senior judge upon entry of the person’s name in the roster of senior judges and until the person becomes a retired senior judge as provided in section 602.9207, or until the person’s name is stricken from the roster of senior judges as provided in section 602.9208, or until the person dies.
4. The supreme court shall cause each senior judge on the roster to actually perform judicial duties during each successive twelve-month period.
5.
a. A senior judge may be reappointed to additional two-year terms, at the discretion of the supreme court, if the judicial officer meets the requirements of subsection 2.
b. A senior judge may be reappointed to a one-year term upon attaining eighty-four years of age and to a succeeding one-year term, at the discretion of the supreme court, if the judicial officer meets the requirements of subsection 2.
[C81, §605A.23] 83 Acts, ch 186, §10202(2) CS83, §602.9203 85 Acts, ch 94, §1, 2; 89 Acts, ch 162, §1; 95 Acts, ch 145, §1, 22002 Acts, ch 1135, §57; 2006 Acts, ch 1091, §22; 2008 Acts, ch 1191, §150; 2011 Acts, ch 78, §6 – 8; 2025 Acts, ch 101, §13, 15 2025 amendment to subsection 5, paragraph b applies to judicial officers retiring on or after July 1, 2025; 2025 Acts, ch 101, §15 Subsection 5, paragraph b amended
Iowa Code § 602.9204 Salary — annuity of senior judge and retired senior judge.
602.9204. Salary — annuity of senior judge and retired senior judge.
1.
a. A judge who retires on or after July 1, 1994, and who is appointed a senior judge under section 602.9203 shall be paid a salary as determined by the general assembly.
b. A senior judge or retired senior judge shall be paid an annuity under the judicial retirement system in the manner provided in section 602.9109, but computed under this section in lieu of section 602.9107, as follows:
(1) The annuity paid to a senior judge or retired senior judge shall be an amount equal to the applicable percentage multiplier of the basic senior judge salary, multiplied by the judge’s years of service prior to retirement as a judge of one or more of the courts included under this article, for which contributions were made to the system, except the annuity of the senior judge or retired senior judge shall not exceed an amount equal to the applicable specified percentage of the basic senior judge salary used in calculating the annuity.
(2) However, following the twelve-month period during which the senior judge or retired senior judge attains senior judge retirement age, the annuity paid to the person shall be an amount equal to the applicable percentage multiplier of the basic senior judge salary cap, multiplied by the judge’s years of service prior to retirement as a judge of one or more of the courts included under this article, for which contributions were made to the system, except that the annuity shall not exceed an amount equal to the applicable specified percentage of the basic senior judge salary cap.
c. A senior judge or retired senior judge shall not receive benefits calculated using a basic senior judge salary established after the twelve-month period in which the senior judge or retired senior judge attains senior judge retirement age.
d. The state shall provide, regardless of age, to an active senior judge or a senior judge with six years of service as a senior judge and to the judge’s spouse, and pay for medical insurance until the judge attains senior judge retirement age.
2. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
a. “Applicable percentage multiplier” means as follows:
(1) For a senior judge or retired senior judge who retired as a judge and received an annuity prior to July 1, 2006, three percent.
(2) For a senior judge or a retired senior judge who retired as a judge and received an annuity on or after July 1, 2006, three and one-fourth percent.
b. “Applicable specified percentage” means, for a senior judge or retired senior judge, the specified percentage, as defined in section 602.9107, subsection 1, that applied on the date the judge was separated from full-time service.
c. “Basic senior judge salary” means the highest basic annual salary which the judge is receiving or had received as of the time the judge became separated from full-time service, as would be used in computing an annuity pursuant to section 602.9107 without service as a senior judge, plus seventy-five percent of the escalator.
d. “Basic senior judge salary cap” means the basic senior judge salary, at the end of the twelve-month period during which the senior judge or retired senior judge attained senior judge retirement age, of the office in which the person last served as a judge before retirement as a judge or senior judge.
e. “Escalator” means the difference between the current basic salary, as of the time each payment is made up to and including the twelve-month period during which the senior judge or retired senior judge attains senior judge retirement age, of the office in which the senior judge last served as a judge before retirement as a judge or senior judge, and the basic annual salary which the judge is receiving at the time the judge becomes separated from full-time service as a judge of one or more of the courts included in this article, as would be used in computing an annuity pursuant to section 602.9107 without service as a senior judge.
[C81, §605A.24] 83 Acts, ch 186, §10202(2)CS83, §602.920486 Acts, ch 1243, §41; 89 Acts, ch 162, §2; 92 Acts, ch 1201, §73, 76; 92 Acts, 2nd Ex, ch 1001, §116; 94 Acts, ch 1183, §86, 90; 95 Acts, ch 145, §3, 4; 99 Acts, ch 200, §22; 2000 Acts, ch 1077, §116; 2002 Acts, ch 1135, §58; 2006 Acts, ch 1091, §23, 24; 2008 Acts, ch 1191, §151, 152 Interpretive memorandum by the Iowa supreme court filed July 22, 1982
Iowa Code § 602.9205 Practice of law prohibited.
602.9205. Practice of law prohibited.
A senior judge shall not practice law.
[C81, §605A.25] 83 Acts, ch 186, §10202(2)CS83, §602.9205
Iowa Code § 602.9206 Temporary service by senior judge.
602.9206. Temporary service by senior judge.
1. Section 602.1612 does not apply to a senior judge but does apply to a retired senior judge. During the tenure of a senior judge, if the judge is able to serve, the judge may be assigned by the supreme court to temporary judicial duties on courts of this state without salary for an aggregate of thirteen weeks out of each twelve-month period, and for additional weeks with the judge’s consent. A senior judge shall not be assigned to judicial duties on the supreme court unless the judge has been appointed to serve on the supreme court prior to retirement. While serving on temporary assignment, a senior judge has and may exercise all of the authority of the office to which the judge is assigned, shall continue to be paid the judge’s annuity as senior judge, shall be reimbursed for the judge’s actual expenses to the extent expenses of a district judge are reimbursable under section 602.1509, and, if assigned to the court of appeals or the supreme court, shall be given the assistance of a law clerk and a secretary designated by the court administrator of the judicial branch from the court administrator’s staff. Each order of temporary assignment shall be filed with the clerks of court at the places where the senior judge is to serve.
2. A senior judge also shall be available to serve in the capacity of administrative law judge under chapter 17A, and the supreme court may assign a senior judge for temporary duties as an administrative law judge. A senior judge shall not be required to serve a period of time as an administrative law judge which, when added to the period of time being served by the person as a judge, if any, would exceed the maximum period of time the person agreed to serve pursuant to section 602.9203, subsection 2.
[C81, §605A.26] 83 Acts, ch 186, §10202(2) CS83, §602.9206 88 Acts, ch 1109, §30; 90 Acts, ch 1271, §1512; 98 Acts, ch 1047, §62; 98 Acts, ch 1202, §43, 46; 2019 Acts, ch 24, §104; 2025 Acts, ch 101, §21 Subsection 1 amended
Iowa Code § 602.9207 Retirement of senior judge.
602.9207. Retirement of senior judge.
1. A senior judge shall cease to be a senior judge upon completion of the twelve-month period during which the judge attains senior judge retirement age. The clerk of the supreme court shall make a notation of the retirement of a senior judge in the roster of senior judges, at which time the senior judge shall become a retired senior judge.
2. A senior judge is subject to retirement under article 2, part 1 for the causes specified in section 602.2106, subsection 3, paragraph “a”. A senior judge may request and be granted retirement in the manner provided in section 602.9112. When a senior judge is retired as provided in this subsection the clerk of the supreme court shall make a notation of the retirement of the senior judge in the roster of senior judges, at which time the senior judge shall become a retired senior judge.
[C81, §605A.27] 83 Acts, ch 186, §10202(2)CS83, §602.92072008 Acts, ch 1191, §153
Iowa Code § 602.9208 Relinquishment of senior judgeship — removal for cause — retirement annuity.
602.9208. Relinquishment of senior judgeship — removal for cause — retirement annuity.
1. A senior judge, at any time prior to the end of the twelve-month period during which the judge attains senior judge retirement age, may submit to the clerk of the supreme court a written request that the judge’s name be stricken from the roster of senior judges. Upon the receipt of the request the clerk shall strike the name of the person from the roster of senior judges, at which time the person shall cease to be a senior judge. A person who relinquishes a senior judgeship as provided in this subsection may be assigned to temporary judicial duties as provided in section 602.1612.
2. A senior judge is subject to removal under the provisions of article 2, part 1 for any of the causes specified in section 602.2106, subsection 3, paragraph “b”. When a person is removed from a senior judgeship as provided in this subsection the clerk of the supreme court shall strike the name of the person from the roster of senior judges, at which time the person shall cease to be a senior judge.
3. A person who relinquishes a senior judgeship in the manner provided in subsection 1 or who is not reappointed shall be paid a retirement annuity that commences on the effective date of the relinquishment or the date of the completion of the term or appointment and shall be based upon the number of years the person served as a senior judge. A person who serves six or more years as a senior judge shall be paid a retirement annuity that is in an amount equal to the amount of the annuity the person is receiving on the effective date of the relinquishment or the date of the completion of the term or appointment in lieu of an amount determined according to section 602.9204. If the person serves less than six years as a senior judge, the person shall be paid a retirement annuity that is in an amount equal to an amount determined according to section 602.9107 added to an amount equal to the number of years the person served as a senior judge, divided by six, multiplied by the difference between the amount of the annuity the person is receiving on the effective date of the relinquishment and the amount determined according to section 602.9107. A person who is removed from a senior judgeship as provided in subsection 2 shall be paid a retirement annuity that commences on the effective date of the removal and is in an amount determined according to section 602.9107 in lieu of section 602.9204, and any service and annuity of the person as a senior judge is disregarded.
[C81, §605A.28] 83 Acts, ch 186, §10202(2)CS83, §602.920884 Acts, ch 1234, §1; 95 Acts, ch 145, §5; 2008 Acts, ch 1191, §154
Iowa Code § 602.9209 Survivor’s annuity.
602.9209. Survivor’s annuity.
1. A survivor of a senior judge, a retired senior judge, or a person who relinquished a senior judgeship under section 602.9208, subsection 1, shall be paid an annuity in lieu of that specified in section 602.9115, which is equal to one-half the amount of the annuity the senior judge, retired senior judge, or person who relinquished a senior judgeship was receiving at the time of death, provided the survivor is qualified under section 602.9115 to receive an annuity.
2. A survivor of a person whose name is stricken from the roster of senior judges because of removal from a senior judgeship under section 602.9208, subsection 2, shall be paid an annuity equal to one-half of the amount the person was receiving at the time of death, provided the survivor is qualified under section 602.9115 to receive an annuity.
[C81, §605A.29] 83 Acts, ch 186, §10202(2)CS83, §602.920984 Acts, ch 1234, §2
Source: Iowa Legislature (legis.iowa.gov)URL: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/law/iowaCode/sections?codeChapter=602&year=2026Fetched: 10/20/2026