Judicial Performance Reviews

Since Iowa adopted its merit system for selecting judges in 1962, The Iowa State Bar Association has conducted the Judicial Performance Review as a way of giving voters information on the Iowa judges up for retention that election year. The Judicial Performance Review is conducted biennially and asks members to participate in an anonymous setting.

Under Iowa’s judicial merit selection system, judges are appointed by the governor after going through an extensive interview and evaluation process by the Judicial Nominating Commission. Voters then decide during the November elections whether the judges should remain in office.

Attorneys rate the judges on questions related to their professional competence; i.e., knowledge and application of the law, perception of factual issues, attentiveness to arguments and testimony, management and control of the courtroom, and promptness of rulings and decisions. The ratings range from 1-5 with 5 being “excellent” and 1 being “very poor.”

Attorneys also rated judges on questions related to their demeanor; i.e., avoids undue personal observations or criticisms of litigants, judges, and lawyers from the bench or in written orders; decides cases on the basis of applicable law and fact, not affected by outside influence; is courteous and patient with litigants, lawyers, and court personnel; deals with pro se litigants and pro se litigation fairly and effectively; and treats people equally regardless of race, gender, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or disability and demonstrates an awareness of the influence of implicit bias. The ratings on these questions also range from 1 to 5, with 5 being “strongly agree” and 1 being “strongly disagree.”


View the 2024 Judicial Performance Review