A basic knowledge of Iowa courts and judges can be very beneficial if you ever find yourself in the courtroom. All too often individuals and businesses find the need to file a lawsuit, or are at the receiving end of a lawsuit, and their lack of knowledge on how the court system works leaves them lost in the proceedings. Regardless of the circumstances that put you there, it doesn’t hurt to understand the court process and know a little about the individual overseeing your case.
It’s important to understand that there are multiple courts in each state that oversee different types of cases. Each of these courts have judges that administer the law and case process. When considering courts and judges in Iowa, keep the following in mind:
1. You can access Iowa court records for the district courts with online databases.
2. The Supreme Court and Court of Appeals only hear appellate cases and each court has their own appointed judges in Iowa.
3. Bankruptcy case filings are also accessible through IA court records.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Locate district Iowa courts and judges online
Typically, district courts hear civil, small claims, criminal, family and estate cases. Iowa contains eight districts, each made up of several Iowa counties. There are courthouses in each county, but the Iowa courts administer cases by district. In addition to the state and federal court rules, districts have local rules and filing costs you must abide by when filing a case in that district.
I recommend: IA courts and judges are both accessible to the public. The
Iowa Judicial Branch provides information on Iowa judges by district. Choose one of the eight districts in the left column of the screen and click on “Judges and Magistrates” for a list of judges in Iowa district courts. Also, visit the
Iowa Judicial Branch Public Outreach page for detailed explanations of the Iowa courts system and the roles of Iowa judges. Access the
Iowa Courts Online Search to look for Iowa court records in both appellate and trial courts.
Learn how to file an appeal with Iowa judges in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals
The Iowa Supreme Court and Court of Appeals are both appellate courts. The purpose of an appellate court is to review the trial transcript and original evidence of a case to determine if there were any errors in the original case decision. There are no witnesses, jurors or new evidence in a case heard before the Iowa Supreme Court or Court of Appeals. There are seven judges in the Iowa Supreme Court. The Court of Appeals has nine judges. The decision of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals is a final decision.
I recommend: Obtain a list of judges, opinions and the oral argument schedule for both the Iowa Court of Appeals and Supreme Court on the
Iowa Judicial Branch website. Navigate through the options using the column on the left side of the web page. Examine the latest Supreme Court Decisions through the
Iowa State Bar Association.
Access bankruptcy records in Iowa
Whether you need to search for a bankruptcy filing on a debtor or determine if bankruptcy is an option for you or your company, the Iowa Bankruptcy Courts can assist you with both. Two districts make up the Iowa Bankruptcy court: the northern and southern district. Both provide information on the basics for bankruptcy filing, contact information for trustees and bankruptcy attorneys and online search of Iowa bankruptcy records.
I recommend: Obtain basic information on the bankruptcy process on the
Southern District of Iowa – US Bankruptcy Court website. Visit the
Northern District of Iowa – US Bankruptcy Court website to search bankruptcy filings (the Southern District also provides this service).
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Regardless of how much knowledge you have of courts and judges in Iowa, you should hire an attorney who specializes in your specific type of case to represent you.
The official source of Iowa Courts and Judges is
the Iowa Courts and Judges page at Business.com
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