State Judicial Nominating Commission
The State Judicial Nominating Commission interviews applicants and selects nominees for appointment to the Iowa Supreme Court and the Iowa Court of Appeals. This commission is composed of eight commissioners elected by lawyers (two representing each congressional district) and nine commissioners appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Iowa Senate. The chair is elected by the commission from its members. All commissioners serve for a term of six years.
Within sixty days of receiving a notice of a judicial vacancy from the governor, the commission must submit the names of nominees to the governor. The commission selects three nominees for each appointment to the supreme court and five nominees for each appointment to the court of appeals.
- State Judicial Nominating Commission members, vacancies, and nominees
- Commission procedures
- Governing Provisions
- Where to send written comments about the qualifications of applicants for judicial vacancies
Judicial Officers
- The Iowa Constitution requires each nominee for an appellate court vacancy to be:
- A lawyer admitted to practice law in Iowa
- A resident of the state to which they are nominated
- Of an age as they can serve a full term of office before reaching age 72
- Forms for Application for Judicial Office
- Oath of Office
Applicants
Joint Judicial Application Form
Joint Judicial Background Information Form
Current vacancies on the Iowa Supreme Court and Iowa Court of Appeals