Relating to the judicial branch, including appropriations to the judicial branch, apportionment of district associate judges, video recordings, noncontract attorney appointment, and contracting authority

The bill permits a judicial officer to waive travel reimbursement for any travel outside the judicial officer’s county of residence to conduct official business. The bill allows a judicial officer to be placed on unpaid leave on any day a court employee is required to furlough. The bill provides that if a judicial officer is placed on unpaid leave, the salary of the judicial officer shall be reduced accordingly for the pay period in which the unpaid leave occurred. The bill provides that the judicial branch may use an amount equal to the aggregate amount of the salary reductions due to judicial officer unpaid leave for any purpose other than judicial salaries. The bill states legislative intent that the judicial branch utilize the Iowa communications network or other secure electronic communications in lieu of traveling. APPORTIONMENT OF DISTRICT ASSOCIATE JUDGES. The bill provides for a new formula to be prescribed by the Iowa supreme court for apportioning district associate judges based upon a weighted workload. Under current law, district associate judges are apportioned based upon county population. The bill provides that in judicial election districts that currently have more district associate judges than the new formula prescribes, vacancies shall not be filled, while districts having fewer or the same shall fill vacancies as they occur. In judicial districts that contain more than one judicial election district, a vacancy in a judicial election district shall not be filled if the total number of district associate judges in all judicial election districts within the judicial district equals or exceeds the aggregate number of judgeships to which all of the judicial election districts of the judicial district are authorized. Incumbents shall not be removed because of a reduction in number of authorized judgeships. VIDEO RECORDINGS.3205 (certified shorthand reporter audio recordings). The bill provides that a certified shorthand reporter’s audio and video recordings used solely for the purpose of providing a verbatim written transcript of a court proceeding or a proceeding conducted in anticipation of use in a court proceeding shall be considered the personal property and private work product of the certified shorthand reporter, except that an audio or video recording of a certified shorthand reporter shall be provided to the presiding judge or chief judge for an in camera review upon court order for good cause shown and an audio or video recording of a certified shorthand reporter shall be provided to the board of examiners of shorthand reporters upon request by the board if a disciplinary proceeding is pending regarding the certified shorthand reporter. NONCONTRACT ATTORNEY APPOINTMENT.10(3) without the attorney’s consent. CONTRACTING AUTHORITY. The bill allows the state court administrator to enter into contracts with vendors that include limitations of liability for the vendors, after considering certain criteria set forth in the bill. However, the bill prohibits limitations of liability for any intentional torts, criminal acts, or fraudulent conduct by the vendor.