In the Balance, the Iowa Judicial Branch podcast is set to celebrate its one-year anniversary August 25. The podcast includes episodes with interviews of supreme court justices and court of appeals judges, and touches on topics such as Iowa’s first female attorney admitted to the bar, a panel discussion about diversity in the workplace, and the Iowa bar exam.
With the March 2020 appearance of COVID-19, the judicial branch adapted and found new ways to keep our courts open to help resolve Iowans’ disputes. Yet, with necessary social distancing and limited seats available in courtrooms across the state, the buildings were not as accessible as they once were. The pandemic hit right at the peak season for school field trips, speaking engagements, mock trials, Law Day, new law student orientations, and other outreach opportunities. Unable to accept guided tour requests, and with speaking engagements moved online, the judicial branch was determined to find a way to safely connect with the public.
In June of 2020, the Iowa Supreme Court greenlit a podcast series, aimed at more widely sharing the valuable information typically discussed on tours. This new project checked all of the boxes: inexpensive to produce, free and easily accessible on phones, tablets, and computers, and there is an entire branch of state government worth of information to explore.
"Podcasts are an exciting way to tell Iowans the many way the courts are able to serve the public," Molly Kottmeyer, Counsel to the Chief Justice, said. "The Iowa Judicial Branch is dedicated to an open and transparent court system and this is an effective and popular new medium to tell our story."
Marissa Gaal, Public Information Assistant, hosts and produces the podcast. After a year of programs, she said, "The podcasts allow me to take the time I need to really delve into a subject with experts from the branch. I have learned a lot in the past year and look forward to connecting with more staff in county courthouses across the state for interviews. I am excited to continue learning alongside our listeners.”
In the Balance is a monthly podcast released on the last Tuesday of every month. The latest two episodes are on podcast apps such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, while all episodes are on the judicial branch website at https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/in-the-balance-podcast/ and archived on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhC3lSpOElz64tLiaGZrMbNGKy6kytCiI.