How Judges Are Chosen in Iowa

Iowa Supreme Court justices are appointed by the governor from a list drawn up by a nominating commission, then face voters in yes/no retention elections every 8 years.

• Seats: 7 justices on the Iowa Supreme Court.
• Term: 8 years, after one year before the first retention vote.
• To serve again: Yes/no retention vote.
• Age rule: Must retire at 72.
• Other courts: The Court of Appeals and district courts use the same commission-and-retention system.

Compare every state on the judicial selection table.

No Iowa Supreme Court seat is up in 2026. Justices here face retention votes on a staggered schedule, so the next one comes in a later year.

Other judges can still be on your ballot. The Court of Appeals and district courts use the same commission-and-retention system. Check your sample ballot for every judicial race where you live.

• Your sample ballot: Iowa’s official election site shows every judicial race on your ballot, including local courts.
• Deadlines and voting options: How to vote in Iowa — registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
• Candidate details: Ballotpedia tracks each candidate’s background, endorsements and spending; local news and the state bar often publish candidate surveys.

Judicial ethics rules bar candidates from promising how they will rule, so a judge’s record and experience usually say more than campaign ads. This site does not endorse or rate candidates.

Iowa’s senators: Chuck Grassley (Republican) and Joni Ernst (Republican).