Administrative and Supervisory Orders
2022 Orders
November 4 – Chief Justice Christensen’s orders regarding remote testimony and remote proceedings. These orders, as well as online tool kits and background photos for judges, attorneys, court reporters, self represented litigants, parties, and witnesses, can be found on the judicial branch website here.
September 9 – The Iowa Supreme Court’s order requesting public comment on the proposed addition of Chapter 70 to the Iowa Court Rules governing juvenile court services directed programs. The deadline for submitting comments is 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 10.
- Order Re Chapter 70 public comment
- Memo Re Juvenile Court Services
- Iowa Rules of Juvenile Court Services Directed Programs
September 1 – Chief Justice Christensen’s order expanding the Electronic Search Warrant Pilot Project statewide and amending the Memorandum of Operation to reflect this expansion.
August 17 – Chief Justice Christensen has signed an order adopting revised forms for Chapter 12 and Chapter 13 of the Iowa Court Rules relating to involuntary hospitalizations and commitments. The forms will take effect on November 1, 2022, subject to Legislative Council review as provided by Iowa Code section 602.4202.
- Order Adopting Chapters 12 & 13 forms
- Chapter 12 form index
- Chapter 13 form index
- Chapter 12 forms binder
- Chapter 13 forms binder
March 22 – Chief Justice Christensen’s order updating an internal rule reference regarding the qualified additional dependent deduction in Iowa Court Rule 9.8(2).
March 11 – The Iowa Supreme Court’s amendments to Chapter 31 of the Iowa Court Rules on attorney oaths and affirmations for admission, effective April 1, 2022.
February 24 – Chief Justice Christensen’s order adopting amendments to Rule 7.4–Form 1: Report of Referee. The form is temporarily adopted effective immediately and will take permanent effect subject to Legislative Council review consistent with the provisions of Iowa Code section 602.4202≥
February 17 – Chief Justice Christensen’s order withdrawing the revised Chapter 2 Iowa Rules of Criminal Procedure submitted to Legislative Council, pursuant to Iowa Code section 602.4202, on January 31, 2022. Download the order.
February 11 – Chief Justice Christensen’s order discontinuing the mask requirement for people entering court-controlled spaces, with judges retaining discretion to address COVID-related safety measures in proceedings as necessary on a case-by-case basis. Download the order.
January 31 – Chief Justice Christensen’s order adopting a revised Chapter 2 Iowa Rules of Criminal Procedure. These rules will take effect on July 1, 2022, subject to Legislative Council review as provided by Iowa Code section 602.4202. This includes criminal cases filed after that date and criminal cases already pending on that date. However, judicial districts or individual district judges may, in the exercise of their discretion, exempt any case that was pending before July 1, 2022, from one or more of the revised rules.
- Criminal Rules Order
- Summary of the Changes to Iowa Criminal Rules of Procedure
- Summary of Changes Since Public Comments
- Chapter 2 Rules of Criminal Procedure
- Rule 2.37—Form 6: Written Arraignment and Plea of Not Guilty
- Rule 2.37—Form 8: Pro Se Waiver of Initial Appearance and Preliminary Hearing for Indictable Offense
- Rule 2.37—Form 9: Attorney Waiver of Initial Appearance and Preliminary Hearing for Indictable Offense
- Rule 2.37—Form 10: Waiver of Speedy Trial (90 Day)
- Rule 2.37—Form 11: Waiver of Speedy Trial (One Year)
- Rule 2.37—Form 12: Waiver of Rights & Written Guilty Plea for Serious or Aggravated Misdemeanors or Nonforcible Class “D” Felonies
- Rule 2.86—Form 1: Application to Expunge Court Record under Iowa Code section 901C.2
- Rule 2.86—Form 2: Application to Expunge Misdemeanor Court Records under Iowa Code section 901C.3
- Rule 2.86—Form 3: Application to Expunge Public Intoxication Court Records under Iowa Code section 123.46
- Rule 2.86—Form 4: Application to Expunge Possession of Alcohol under the Legal Age Court Records under Iowa Code section 123.47
- Rule 2.86—Form 5: Application to Expunge Prostitution Court Records under Iowa Code section 725.1
2021 Orders
December 17 – Chief Justice Christensen’s order adopting amendments to Rule 7.4–Form 1: Report of Referee. The amended form is effective February 28, 2022, subject to Legislative Council review consistent with the provisions of Iowa Code section 602.4202.
December 8 – Chief Justice Christensen’s order amending the court’s December 6 order regarding COVID-19 impact on court services. The amended order is effective January 1, 2022, and changes the language regarding the use of remote technology in family law proceedings and trials to be more consistent with the process in which other civil proceedings and trials use remote technology.
December 6 – Chief Justice Christensen’s order regarding Covid protocols. Download the order
December 2 – Chief Justice Christensen’s order adopting amendments to Iowa Court Rule 36.6 concerning filings with the Iowa Supreme Court Grievance Commission.
December 2 – Chief Judge Huppert’s Amended Administrative Orders for Polk County:
- Second Amendment In Re: Prioritization of Assignment of Cases and Ruling Time
- Second Amendment In Re: Rotating General Civil Trial Daily Coverage System
November 18 – Chief Judge Huppert’s Administrative Order regarding District Court Associate Judge assignments for 2022. Download a copy.
November 16 – Chief Judge Huppert’s Administrative Orders:
October 13 – Chief Justice Christensen’s order making appointments and re-appointments to the Iowa Access to Justice Commission. Click here to download a copy.
October 13 – Chief Judge Huppert’s second Amended Order Re Administration of Polk County Juvenile Court. Click here to download a copy.
October 4 – Chief Judge Huppert’s Amended Order regarding the administration of Polk County Juvenile Court. Click here to download a copy.
September 30 – Chief Justice Christensen’s order regarding amendments to Iowa Court Rule 9.5(2), which will take effect January 1, 2022.
September 14 – Chief Justice Christensen’s order regarding the reapportionment of state senatorial and representative districts. Click here to download a copy.
August 31 – Chief Justice Christensen’s order establishing the Iowa Rules of Evidence Substantive Review Task Force and appointing members. Click here to download a oopy.
August 30 – Chief Justice Christensen’s order amending the Iowa Rules of Electronic Procedure to permit property management entities to electronically file on behalf of titled property owners in actions concerning residential rental property.
August 27 – Chief Justice Christensen’s order requiring facial coverings for all people entering court controlled spaces. Click here to download a copy.
July 15 – Exhibit A of the Administrative Order 2021-29 was amended. Click here to download a copy with the amended Ex. A.
July 14 – Chief Judge Huppert’s Administrative Order 2021-29 In Re: Polk County Magistrate Assignments. This order modifies Administrative Order 2020-63 and is effective August 1, 2021. Cllick here to download a copy.
June 21 – Chief Justice Christensen’s Administrative Order extending the electronic signature protocols through January 1, 2022. Click here to download a copy.
June 18 – Chief Judge Huppert’s Administrative Order In Re: Trials and Court Proceedings in Polk County. This order rescinds Administrative Order 2021-1 and is effective for court proceedings that commence on or after June 28, 2021. Click here to download a copy.
April 23 – Chief Judge Huppert’s Amended Administrative Order In Re: Designation of Places of Holding Court for 2021. Click here to download a copy..
April 9 (amended April 12) – Chief Justice Christensen’s order adopting an amendment to chapter 16 of the Iowa Court Rules concerning the submission of potentially dangerous exhibits to court clerks. The amendment is effective immediately. Click here to download the order and click here to download redlined Rule 16.412 Exhibits.
April 9 – Chief Justice Christensen’s order amending the court’s July 9, 2020, In the Matter of Resuming Family Law Trials Postponed by COVID-19 order. Click here to download a copy. The amendment replaces the eleven-page mediation/judicial settlement conference report form with a new two-page streamlined form. The new report form is adopted effectively immediately. Click here to download a copy.
January 15 – Chief Judge Huppert’s Administrative Order regarding scheduling of trials in Polk County. Click here to download a copy.
February 11 – Chief Judge Huppert’s Administrative Orders:
- Amended 2020-48 In Re: Petit Jury Terms – 2021 *Amendment was for the number of Jury weeks scheduled for July
- Amended 2020-54 In Re: Prioritization of Assignment of Cases and Ruling Time – Polk County for 2021 *Amendment was to Exhibit “A” Only
2020 Orders
December 30 – Chief Justice Christensen’s order supplementing previous forcible-and-detainer-related (FED-related) supervisory orders relating to the spread of the novel coronavirus/COVID-19. Click here to download a copy.
December 18 – Chief Justice Christensen’s order approving amendments to the bar examination application process in chapter 31 of the Iowa Court Rules.
December 14 – Chief Justice Christensen’s orders:
- Order replacing paragraph 24 of the amended November 24, 2020 order. Paragraph 24 concerns Judicial Discretion Regarding Video Conferencing in Custodial Family Law Trials
- Order regarding the judicial branch court reporter workforce. The substance of this order is substantially similar to the November 12, 2009 order
- November 30 – Chief Justice Christensen’s order amending the order filed November 24, 2020, regarding the impact of Covid-19 on court services. Click here to download a copy.
November 16 – Chief Judge Huppert’s Administrative Orders:
- 2019-39 Amended In Re: 2020 Court Holidays
- 2020-68 In Re: Court Duty for Additional Holidays in 2020
November 10 – Chief Justice Christensen’s order postponing all jury trials until February 1, 2021. Click here to download a copy.
October 8 – Chief Judge Huppert’s Administrative Order regarding the implementation of the informal family law trial program. Click here to download a copy.
October 2 – Chief Justice Christensen’s order implementing the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) order temporarily halting residential evictions to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. Click here to download a copy.
And click here to download an evictions declaration form with instructions.
September 17 – Chief Judge Huppert’s Administrative Orders:
- Regarding Designation of Places of Holding Court for 2020
- Regarding Administrative Directives for the Resumption of Criminal Jury Trials
August 19 – Chief Justice Christensen’s order requesting public comment on proposed changes to the Bar Examination application process Click here to download a copy of the order and click here to download the proposed rule change.
August 13 – Chief Justice Christensen’s order regarding the matter of access to justice in counties impacted by natural disaster. Click here to download.
August 14 – Chief Justice Christensen’s order adding two more counties in the matter of access to justice in counties impacted by natural disaster. Click here to download.
July 31 – Chief Justice Christensen’s supplemental order regarding ongoing provisions for COVID-19 impact on court services. Click here to download
July 22 – Chief Judge Huppert’s amended order regarding the designation of places of holding court for 2020. Click here to download.
July 22 – Chief Justice Christensen’s supervisory order regarding resuming jury trials during Covid-19. Click here to download.
July 10 – Chief Judge Huppert’s Administrative Orders:
- 2020-39 In Re: COVID-19 Administrative Directives for Polk County (Amends portions of Administrative Order 2020-36)
- 2020-40 In Re: Dallas County Courthouse COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols
July 9 – Chief Justice Christensen filed the following supervisory orders:
- Revision to the May 22, 2020 case priority order
- Resuming family law trials order
- Resuming in person proceedings order
July 7 – Chief Justice Christensen’s order regarding Interim Procedures Governing Ability to Pay Determinations and Conversion of Restitution Orders, including forms. Click here to download.
June 22 – Chief Judge Huppert’s Administrative Order regarding Guthrie County Court Service. Click here to download a copy.
June 4 – Chief Judge Huppert signed the following orders:
April 30 – Chief Judge Huppert’s Administrative Order in the matter of the appointment of the Chief Juvenile Court Officer of the Fifth Judicial District of Iowa. Click here to download a copy.
April 17 – Chief Justice Christensen’s supervisory order on the impact of COVID-19 on court services. Click here to download a copy.
April 17 – Chief Judge Huppert’s order regarding court services in Guthrie and Madison counties. Click here to download a copy.
April 6 – Chief Justice Christensen’s supervisory order on the impact of COVID-19 on child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Click here to download a copy.
April 4 – Message from the Polk County District Court;
Pursuant to Iowa Supreme Court Order dated April 2, 2020, all family law trials and other hearings set on the general trial calendar to commence before June 15, 2020 shall be continued. The Court will file, sua sponte, an order to continue the trial and setting a new trial scheduling conference in those cases. This does not apply to proceedings filed under Iowa Code sections 236, 236A, 235B and 235F, or Habeas Corpus proceedings that are set on the general trial calendar. These proceedings can be held in-person on the date and time set for trial.
This only applies to proceedings on the general trial calendar and not in Family Law courtrooms 108, 109 and 112 of the Polk County Historic Courthouse (Family Law 1, 2 and 3 dockets). Hearings and trials scheduled on those dockets will be handled separately by the family law judges consistent with the District 5 Administrative Order 2020-26.
April 2, 2020 – Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Christensen’s order regarding the coronavirus/COVID-19 impact on court services. The order combines all of the previous seven orders and only substantively changes the dates to reconvene court proceedings. Click here to download a copy.
April 1, 2020 – Chief Judge Michael Huppert’s Administrative Orders:
March 31, 2020 – Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Christensen has signed a supervisory order to replace the March 28 order. Click here to download a copy.
March 28, 2020 – Chief Justice Christensen’s supervisory order regarding modifications to certain court functions and forms to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Included are updates regarding criminal trial postponements, signatures on civil court documents, revisions to eliminate mandatory notarization, and guidance on child custody schedules. Click here to download a copy.
March 25, 2020 – Chief Judge Huppert’s Administrative Order regarding court services. Click here to download a copy.
March 24, 2020 – Chief Judge Huppert’s Administrative Orders:
- 2020-24 In Re: Use of Online Parenting Classes
- 2020-25 In Re: Access to Warren County Court Facility
March 14, 2020 – Chief Justice Christensen’s Supervisory Order regarding the impact of the Coronavirus-COVID 19 on court services. Click here to download a copy.
The Iowa Supreme Court is seeking public comment on proposed amendments to chapter 23 of the Iowa Court Rules regarding time standards for case processing. The deadline for submitting comments is 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 20, 2020. Click here for details and click here to read the proposed Chapter 23 amendments.
