Relating to the membership of district judicial nominating commissions

Official bill page Lobbyist declarations One-pager to print

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedJanuary 30, 2023
Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 31, 2023
Done: Senate committeeFebruary 7, 2023
Done: Passes the SenateFebruary 8, 202334–15
Stopped: House committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
Next: Passes the House
Next: To the Governor
Next: Signed into law

Died when the session ended The 2024 session adjourned on April 19, 2024, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

AI summary The governor would appoint six people to each judicial nominating commission instead of five, and no more than half of those appointees can be the same gender. These commissions pick the people who are considered for new district court judge positions. Instead of a judge leading the group, the commission members will now vote to choose one of their own to be the chairperson.¹

Read the official explanation

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. The bill removes the judge from the commission and from being chairperson and requires the members of each district judicial nominating commission to elect a chairperson from their own number. District judicial nominating commissions are responsible for screening applicants and selecting nominees for district court judicial vacancies. There is a nominating commission for each of Iowa’s judicial election subdistricts. District nominating commissions provide the governor with a slate of two nominees from which to make an appointment to the district court.

Full bill text²

Senate subcommittee

Named January 31, 2023. On February 1, 2023 it recommended passage. [].

Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part

Iowa Code it changes

Amends§46.3 §46.6

How the Code works³

Lobbying

2 for · 14 against · 2 undecided · Who →

Family tree

Tried before

SF 2014Renumbered89th GA

90th General Assembly

SF 171Passed a chamber

Picked up later

SF 407Passed a chamber91st GA

Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.

Tried before

This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.

SF 2014 Relating to the membership of the district judicial nominating commissions
89th General Assembly · Renumbered as SF 2132 · very similar
Cleared committee

Similar bills this General Assembly

SF 407 Relating to the membership of district judicial nominating commissions
91st General Assembly · Passed Senate
Very similar

Matched by wording or an identical title.