The Iowa Judicial Branch issued three announcements this past week:
Alan Olson appointed to Access to Justice Commission
Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen signed an order July 10 appointing ISBA Vice President Alan Olson of West Des Moines to a special one-year term on the Iowa Access to Justice Commission, effective July 1, through June 30, 2027.
Olson is an attorney and managing partner of Olson Law Office, P.C., where he focuses on personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death and workers' compensation cases. He has practiced law for more than 30 years.
View the order
Court adopts additional guardianship and conservatorship rule amendments
Chief Justice Christensen also signed an order adopting additional amendments to Chapters 7 and 8 of the Iowa Court Rules and related court forms governing guardianships and conservatorships.
The amendments:
- Make certain adult guardianship and conservatorship filings confidential while establishing a process for requesting access.
- Adopt standardized transition report forms for outgoing guardians in both adult and minor guardianships.
- Re-adopt an updated protected information disclosure form for minor guardianships.
The amendments build on changes adopted Sept. 8, 2025, that strengthened court oversight of adult and minor guardianships and conservatorships by tightening clerk delinquency reporting requirements, identifying filings that cannot be waived, requiring court-prescribed forms for all guardians, and designating guardian background-check information forms as confidential.
Under the new amendments, background-check information, care plans, inventories and reports filed in adult guardianship and conservatorship cases will be confidential. Individuals may request access by filing a court-approved request form. Certain family members and other individuals identified under Iowa law may obtain records through the clerk, while other requests will require a court order.
The court also adopted mandatory transition report forms to help ensure continuity of care when a guardian resigns and a successor guardian is appointed.
The amendments and updated forms take effect Sept. 7, subject to the 60-day Iowa Legislative Council review process under Iowa Code section 602.4202.
View the order
Supreme Court updates weapons policy for court-controlled spaces
The Iowa Supreme Court also issued a revised supervisory order governing weapons in court-controlled spaces, superseding its Oct. 16, 2025, order in response to recent statutory changes.
The order continues to prohibit weapons, including firearms, knives, and chemical agents such as mace or pepper spray, in court-controlled spaces. Those spaces include courthouses used exclusively for judicial branch functions, as well as courtrooms and court offices located in county courthouses and joint-use public facilities.
The order includes exceptions for peace officers performing official duties and certain officials who hold valid professional weapons permits, including members of the Iowa General Assembly, judicial officers, county attorneys, assistant county attorneys, the attorney general, deputy attorneys general, and assistant attorneys general. Designated judicial branch security officers and individuals providing inmate transport or courthouse security are also exempt.
In addition, contractors and judicial branch employees performing facilities-related work may possess knives and similar tools necessary for their duties. Judicial officers may possess small knives or multi-tools with blades no longer than five inches, as well as small chemical agent canisters for personal safety.
View the order
For more information, visit the Iowa Judicial Branch's Supreme Court orders page.
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