Magistrate Appointing Commissions

Each of Iowa’s 99 counties has a magistrate appointing commission to assist with the selection of district associate judges, associate juvenile judges, associate probate judges, and magistrates.  Each magistrate nominating commission is composed of the following members:  a district court judge who serves as chair and who is designated by the chief judge of the judicial district, up to three non lawyer 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 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.

District associate judges, associate juvenile judges, and associate probate judges are appointed by the district judges of the judicial election district from nominees the magistrate appointing commission submits.

The magistrate appointing commission appoints magistrates. 

• Commission Procedures for Nominating District Associate Judges
• Commission Procedures for Nominating District Juvenile Judges
• Commission Procedures for Nominating Magistrates
   
• Governing Provisions for Appointment of District Associate Judge (PDF) 
• Governing Provisions for Appointment of District Juvenile Judge (PDF) 
• Governing Provisions for Appointment of Magistrate (PDF)
   
• Governing Provisions for District Associate Judge Qualifications (PDF)
• Governing Provisions for District Juvenile Judge Qualifications (PDF)
• Governing Provisions for Magistrate Qualification(PDF)