SF 171: Relating to the membership of district judicial nominating commissions

What it does

This bill relates to the membership of district judicial nominating commissions. Under current law, the governor appoints five eligible electors of each judicial district to the 11-person commission. The bill changes the amount of electors appointed by the governor to six and provides that no more than half of the commissioners appointed shall be of the same gender, rather than a simple majority. Under current law, the most senior judge in the district serves as a commissioner and as the chairperson of that particular district judicial nominating commission.

Senate subcommittee · named January 31, 2023

• Sen. Julian B. Garrett (R)
• Sen. Nate Boulton (D)
• Sen. Jason Schultz (R) · jason.schultz@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 2 for, 14 against

For: Americans For Prosperity; Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition

Against: AFSCME Iowa Council 61; Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund; Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers; Iowa Association for Justice; Iowa Association of Magistrate Judges; Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers; Iowa Chapter of Sierra Club; Iowa Defense Counsel Association; Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO; Iowa Judges Association; Iowa Judicial Branch - Supreme Court; Iowa State Bar Association; and 2 more

In plain words

1. January 30, 2023Filed in the Senate and sent to the Judiciary committee
2. January 31, 2023Senate subcommittee named: Garrett, Boulton and Schultz
3. February 1, 2023Subcommittee recommended passing it
4. February 7, 2023Approved by the Senate committee
5. February 8, 2023Passed the Senate, 34–15
6. February 9, 2023Arrived in the House