Chief Justice Susan Christansen gives her 5th condition of the judiciary address after her fellow iowa supreme court justices re-elect her as chief justice...Wh

"When our attorneys are forced to triage cases, we fail everyone who depends on our system, including victims," Christensen said.

In her Condition of the Judiciary address Wednesday morning, Chief Justice Susan Christensen asked legislators to reduce the number of magistrates across the state, raise state district judge salaries and address the shortage of court-appointed attorneys in Iowa.

Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen called Wednesday for a “modernization” of the state’s magistrate system, increasing state district court judge pay and addressing the lack of contract attorneys in the state as top goals for the 2025 legislative session.

Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen is recommending a reduction in the number of private attorneys the state is paying to oversee some court proceedings, like pre-trial hearings. They’re called magistrates and Iowa law requires at least one magistrate per county.

In her address, Chief Justice Susan Christensen asked lawmakers to change Iowa Code to no longer require one magistrate per county.

Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen will address legislators in her annual Condition of the Judiciary address at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15. Christensen, who was reelected last week by the court to another two-year term as chief justice, has led the Iowa Supreme Court since 2020.

Iowa’s top judge is calling on state lawmakers to make reforms to the judicial system this legislative session.

Chief Justice Susan Christensen spoke to lawmakers during her fifth State of the Judiciary address on Wednesday.

Lawmakers wrapped up their first week of the 2025 legislative session. Iowa's top leaders laid out their priorities for the session and lawmakers began introduc

Chief Justice Susan Christensen called for the modernization of the magistrate system, increased judicial pay, and the prioritization of contract attorneys in her annual Condition of the Judiciary Address on Wednesday.

Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen outlined recommendations Wednesday for the state’s judicial system, including changing the magistrate system and urging lawmakers to increase salaries for judges again.