Magistrate Appointing Commissions
Each of Iowa’s 99 counties has a magistrate appointing commission to assist with the selection of magistrates. Each magistrate nominating commission is composed of the following members: a district court judge who is designated by the chief judge of the judicial district, up to three nonlawyer members appointed by the board of supervisors, and up to two lawyers elected by the attorneys in the county. The board of supervisors may not appoint an attorney or an active law enforcement officer as a commissioner. A county attorney may not serve on the commission. Commissioners, except for the district court judge, serve six-year terms.