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

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.

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

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.

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.

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 Gave Her Condition Of The Judiciary Address A Philadelphia sports fan, who went on a misogynistic tirade against a female Green Bay Packers fan in viral video, lost his job and won't be allowed to ever attend another Eagles home game, officials said Tuesday.

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