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Read. Follow. Verify.Iowa Senate File 407 increases gubernatorial appointments to district judicial nominating commissions and removes judges from commission chairmanships
Last action · April 2, 2025: Subcommittee recommends passage.Sponsor: Garrett
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What This Bill Would Do
Iowa Senate File 407 increases the number of s appointed by the governor to each from five to six and removes the senior judge from serving on or chairing the commission. Instead, commission members will now elect a chairperson from among their own members. These changes alter the composition and leadership of the 14 district judicial nominating commissions responsible for screening court applicants.
The measure shifts the balance of representation on local judicial nominating bodies by increasing gubernatorial appointees and removing sitting judges from leadership roles, altering how slates of judicial nominees are selected for district court vacancies in Iowa.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
eligible electors of each judicial election district
The number of eligible electors appointed by the governor to each district judicial nominating commission is increased from five to six.
senior judges in judicial districts
Senior judges are removed from serving as commissioners and from acting as chairpersons of their respective district judicial nominating commissions.
district judicial nominating commissions
The commissions experience changes to their total membership count and must elect their own chairpersons internally rather than relying on the senior judge.
Key Facts
- The governor's gubernatorial appointments of eligible electors to each district judicial nominating commission are increased from five to six.
- The senior judge in the district is removed from serving as a commissioner and as the chairperson of the district judicial nominating commission.
- Members of each district judicial nominating commission are required to elect a chairperson from their own number.
- District judicial nominating commissions provide the governor with a slate of two nominees for district court vacancies.
Show all 5 facts
- There are 14 judicial election subdistricts in Iowa that maintain district judicial nominating commissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many electors does the governor appoint to each district judicial nominating commission under the bill?
Who will now serve as chairperson of a district judicial nominating commission?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.
Procedural history
13 actions- Apr 2, 2025Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee recommends passage.
- Apr 1, 2025Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee Meeting: 04/02/2025 7:45AM RM 102.
- Mar 25, 2025HouseSubcommittee: Thomson, C., Holt and Olson. H.J. 813 .
- Mar 18, 2025HouseIntroducedRead first time, referred to Judiciary. H.J. 679 .
- Mar 17, 2025HouseMessage from Senate. H.J. 663 .
- Mar 17, 2025SenateImmediate message. S.J. 549 .
Show 7 earlier actions
- Mar 17, 2025SenateFloorPassed Senate , yeas 31, nays 15. S.J. 546 .
- Mar 6, 2025Iowa LegislaturePlaced on calendar.
- Mar 6, 2025SenateCommittee report, recommending passage. S.J. 437 .
- Mar 4, 2025Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee recommends passage.
- Feb 27, 2025Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee Meeting: 03/04/2025 1:00PM Room 217 Conference Room.
- Feb 25, 2025SenateSubcommittee: Garrett, Evans, and Quirmbach. S.J. 356 .
- Feb 20, 2025SenateIntroducedIntroduced, referred to Judiciary. S.J. 324 .
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Sources
www.legis.iowa.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance50How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy45Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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