Iowa’s courts are committed to reasonable and affordable fees and procedures, as well as safe and convenient court locations, facilities accessible to persons with disabilities, and high quality language interpretation services.  Court instructions, orders, judgments and forms shall be understandable to the average citizen. Unless prohibited by law, all court proceedings and records shall be open and accessible to the public we serve.

Iowa’s courts are staffed by well-trained and hard-working personnel who are committed to excellence, bound by codes of professional ethics and conduct, and accountable for the public funds allocated for judicial branch operations.

Empowered by the constitutional principles of our democracy, the Iowa Judicial Branch exercises governmental autonomy while maintaining respect for, and fostering cooperation with, the executive and legislative branches of government.  Iowa’s courts are free from, and do not engage in, any partisan politics.

Civil claims, criminal charges, and all other matters coming before Iowa’s courts shall be addressed with efficiency and dispatch, consistent with careful and thoughtful deliberation.  To that end, the Iowa Judicial Branch applies its resources toward practical and innovative technologies for the administration of justice.