The Iowa Supreme Court marked a decade of traveling to communities around the state to hear oral arguments when it visited Oskaloosa last September. In the past ten years, the court has heard oral arguments in 31 communities and visited 200 schools, universities, and colleges.
Originally, the court made four visits a year, two in the spring and two in the fall. The court also hears oral arguments at Drake University Law School in the spring and the University of Iowa School of Law in the fall. Additionally, the court hears evening oral arguments in Des Moines in the Judicial Branch Building once a year and hears oral arguments at a Des Moines area high school each fall for Constitution Day. The court did not go on the road in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is now scheduling two trips a year.
The oral arguments on the road are all scheduled in the evening so as many people as possible may attend. On a typical trip, the court leaves Des Moines in the morning. Most of the justices fan out to a county courthouse along the way to visit with judges and staff. The chief justice and communications director often meet with the local newspaper’s editorial board. The court may also schedule an afternoon press conference with the chief justice and the justice who lives nearest to the town the court is visiting.
To begin the evening, the justices attend a dinner with local government officials, legislators, and business leaders. The chief justice sends invitations to attend the oral arguments to state legislators in the area. The dinner is sponsored by the local bar or chamber of commerce or both.
The supreme court usually hears oral arguments in the local high school auditorium as high schools typically have good parking and everyone in town knows where it is. The court has convened in community college auditoriums and community fine arts centers. The court also heard arguments at Music Man Square in Mason City, the Wieting Theatre in Toledo, and the Grand Theater in Keokuk.
After the oral arguments, the court joins the audience in a reception sponsored by the local bar association. A large percentage of the audience will usually stay for the reception to meet with the justices and ask questions. The morning after the court's oral arguments, the justices fan out to meet with upper-level high school Government and American History classes. The justices talk about their responsibilities on the supreme court, the Iowa court system, and answer questions students may have about the judicial branch of government. Justices also visit the local college or community college.
The community visits are an opportunity for more Iowans to see firsthand how the justice system and the rule of law operate to settle disputes and ensure the rights of all Iowans are fairly and impartially protected. The school visits build upon what students have learned in school, lead to a common understanding of the history and role of the courts, and encourage students to learn more about the work of courts and the vital link between the rule of law and democracy.
Watch the Iowa Judicial Branch website for the announcement of the community the supreme court will visit this spring.