This bill modifies the appointment and workload criteria for magistrate judges in Iowa.

The bill changes the rules for appointing magistrate judges in Iowa. It removes the prohibition on appointing more magistrates than authorized for a county and requires the supreme court to create a new formula for distributing magistrates based on case-related workload. The bill also allows the chief judge of a judicial district to assign a magistrate to a county if a vacancy cannot be filled normally and if the combined workload of the two counties does not exceed 31% of a full-time position. The changes take effect January 1, 2029.

This bill modifies the appointment and workload criteria for magistrate judges in Iowa.

The bill changes the rules for appointing magistrate judges in Iowa. It removes the prohibition on appointing more magistrates than authorized for a county and requires the supreme court to create a new formula for distributing magistrates based on case-related workload. The bill also allows the chief judge of a judicial district to assign a magistrate to a county if a vacancy cannot be filled normally and if the combined workload of the two counties does not exceed 31% of a full-time position. The changes take effect January 1, 2029.