Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen says there’s an urgent need to raise the pay for Iowa judges. Christensen is asking legislators to approve a 4.3% increase in judges’ pay, alongside a plan to reduce the number of magistrates who work part-time in courtrooms around the state.
State law currently requires a magistrate in each county — and a total of 206 statewide — to handle things like preliminary hearings, issuing warrants and simple misdemeanor cases.
Magistrates get a salary and benefit package of about 65-thousand dollars a year to spend roughly 13 hours a week on judicial duties, but Christensen says some magistrates in low-crime areas are working a couple of hours a week. This is the second year Christensen has used the annual “Condition of the Judiciary” ask legislators to approve significant changes in the magistrate system.
Christensen says her plan to consolidate and restructure the magistrate system would save the state at least $2.5 MILLION a year. She also told lawmakers the pay for district court judges is nearing a point where no attorneys will apply.
Christensen says one judge who recently resigned is now earning a higher salary — as a county attorney.
Governor Reynolds appointed Christensen to the Iowa Supreme Court in 2018. In February of 2020, the justices chose Christensen to be chief justice.
