House Study Bill 653 - Introduced HOUSE FILE _____ BY (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY BILL BY CHAIRPERSON SWAIM) A BILL FOR An Act prohibiting magistrates from acting as counsel in 1 certain cases. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 5813HC (2) 83 jm/nh

H.F. _____ Section 1. Section 602.1605, Code 2009, is amended by adding 1 the following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 3. Notwithstanding subsection 2, a 3 magistrate shall not appear as counsel for a client in any 4 criminal or delinquency proceeding in any court within the 5 jurisdiction of the magistrate. 6 EXPLANATION 7 This bill relates to a magistrate acting as counsel for 8 clients in the jurisdiction of appointment. 9 The bill prohibits a magistrate from appearing as counsel 10 for a client in any criminal or delinquency proceeding in any 11 court within the jurisdiction of the magistrate. Current law 12 requires cases where a magistrate appears as counsel within 13 the jurisdiction of the magistrate to be heard by a district 14 associate judge or district judge. 15 -1- LSB 5813HC (2) 83 jm/nh 1/ 1