SF 407 (LSB 1025XS (3) 91)

SENATE FILE 407

BY  GARRETT

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the membership of district judicial nominating commissions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 46.3, subsection 1, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  The governor shall appoint five six eligible electors of each judicial election district to the district judicial nominating commission.
    Sec. 2.  Section 46.5, subsection 4, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   4.  If a vacancy occurs in the office of chairperson of the state a judicial nominating commission, the members of the commission shall elect a new chairperson as provided in section 46.6. If a vacancy occurs in the office of chairperson of a district judicial nominating commission or in the absence of the chairperson, the members of the particular commission shall elect a temporary chairperson from their own number.
    Sec. 3.  Section 46.6, subsection 1, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  The commissioners of the state a judicial nominating commission shall elect a chairperson from their own number. The chairperson shall serve a two-year term that expires on April 30 of even-numbered years. A commissioner may be reelected for a second or third term as chairperson. If a chairperson of a judicial nominating commission desires to be relieved of the duties of chairperson while retaining the status of commissioner, the chairperson shall notify the governor and the other commissioners of the commission. At the next meeting of the commission, the commissioners shall elect a new chairperson for the remainder of the two-year term.
    Sec. 4.  Section 46.6, subsection 2, Code 2025, is amended by striking the subsection.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   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 each 11-person commission. The bill increases the number of electors appointed by the governor to six.
   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 14 judicial election subdistricts. District judicial nominating commissions provide the governor with a slate of two nominees from which to make an appointment to the district court.