In the Balance

Welcome back. This month I spoke with Richard Gordon, Iowa’s statewide treatment courts coordinator, about his role in the many treatment courts in our state. Host: Marissa Gaal Guest: Richard Gordon, Iowa Statewide Coordinator for Treatment Courts Music from The Epic 2 by Rafael Krux Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5384-the-epic-2- License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

This month I sat down with Justice David May, the most recent appointment to the Iowa Supreme Court. To learn more about his journey to the bench, keep listening. Host: Marissa Gaal Guests: David May, Iowa Supreme Court Justice Music from The Epic 2 by Rafael Krux Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5384-the-epic-2- License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

May marked the 20th anniversary of the Iowa Judicial Branch building's opening. In honor of the anniversary, I sat down with Rebecca Colton and David Boyd, two past Iowa Judicial Branch employees who were a part of the building process from start to finish. Host: Marissa Gaal Guests: Rebecca Colton, retired Iowa Supreme Court Executive Assistant, and David Boyd, retired Iowa State Court Admin...

This month I connected with the Iowa Appellate Clerk of Court, Donna Humpal, to discuss what a day in her life looks like, as well as how her role and clerk’s office resembles and differs from the county clerks offices. Host: Marissa Gaal Guest: Donna Humpal, Iowa Appellate Clerk of Court Music from The Epic 2 by Rafael Krux Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5384-the-epic-2- License: http://creative...

In recognition of Women’s History Month, I went looking for women throughout Iowa’s history to cover for this episode. As it turns out, Iowa is not lacking for strong, influential women who have left their mark on the state’s judicial and legal systems. Last year we covered the life of Arabella Mansfield, the first white woman admitted to the Iowa State Bar in 1869. This year, I want to highlight...

In recognition of Black History Month this February, I spoke with sculptor James Ellwanger, the artist behind the Shattering Silence sculpture which decorates the Iowa Judicial Branch Building's west lawn. This sculpture is a memorial to Iowa's progressive civil rights history and where it all began, with the case of Ralph Montgomery, a former Missouri slave granted his freedom in Iowa,...

This episode we are focusing on the important work of our county courthouses clerks of court. I spoke with Jackie Myers, the clerk of court for Des Moines and Henry Counties, as well as Donna Geery, the District 2 assistant court administrator, to learn more about the day-to-day duties of a county clerk of court, and how they work together in each of their judicial districts.   Host: Marissa Gaal...

This month we are highlighting an essential role in Iowa’s Judicial system: the court reporter. I spoke with Laura McFall, a court reporter out of District 8 and a past president of the Court Reporter’s Association, and Bob Gast, State Court Administrator, to discuss the duties of a court reporter and the integral role they play in the judicial system. Host: Marissa Gaal Guests: Laura McFall, cour...

This month we are discussing electronic search warrants. In 2017, the Iowa Legislature amended Iowa Code Chapter 808 to allow the transmission for and issuance of search warrants by electronic means. In April 2018, the Iowa State Court Administrator established the Electronic Search Warrants Advisory Committee. Amidst the pandemic in April 2020, the electronic search warrant pilot project began in...

This month I spoke with District 6 Judge Kevin McKeever about Iowa’s jury service. To learn more about the history of jury service, what the selection process looks like, and the rights upheld by jury service in our country, keep listening.  Host: Marissa Gaal Guest: Judge Kevin McKeever, District 6 Music from The Epic 2  by Rafael Krux  Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5384-the-epic-2-  License: h...

This month, in recognition of the upcoming Constitution Day, celebrated on September 17 every year, I sat down with Justice Dana Oxley to discuss the difference between the Iowa Constitution and Federal Constitution.  Host: Marissa Gaal Guest: Iowa Supreme Court Justice Dana Oxley Music from The Epic 2  by Rafael Krux  Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5384-the-epic-2-  License: http://creativecommo...

This month I spoke with Juvenile Court Officer Chris Castrey about what a typical day might look life for a JCO in the 7th judicial district. To learn more about what the position of a juvenile court officer entails, keep listening.   Host: Marissa Gaal Guest: Chris Castrey, Juvenile Court Officer Music from The Epic 2  by Rafael Krux  Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5384-the-epic-2-  License: htt...

This month we are breaking down the Iowa Judicial Branch budget, which was approved earlier this month. I sat down with State Court Administrator Bob Gast to discuss the budget process, from proposal to approval, and how the money will support the judicial branch’s mission to administer justice under law equally to all persons.  Host: Marissa Gaal Guest: Bob Gast, State Court Administrator Music f...

Welcome back to another episode of In the Balance, the Iowa Judicial Branch podcast. Today, we are going to walk through some important information and interesting features available on our website, iowacourts.gov . Host: Marissa Gaal Links Latest News: https://www.iowacourts.gov/newsroom/news-releases/ News Releases: https://www.iowacourts.gov/announcements/ FAQs: https://www.iowacourts.gov/faq/...

Welcome back. This month I spoke with Judge Patrick McElyea about what a typical day might look like for a district court judge in the seventh judicial district. Learn about the types of cases a district court judge can hear, the differences between a bench trial and jury trial, and what fills a judge’s time when they aren’t on the bench. Host: Marissa Gaal Guest: Judge Patrick McElyea, District 7...

In this month’s episode, I am sitting down with District 4 Court Administrator Laura Kyndesen to talk about her experience as a clerk of court, a district court administrator, and how distributive workload processing between counties is not only streamlining work for judicial employees but improving court services for Iowans as well. Host: Marissa Gaal Guest: Laura Kyndesen, District 4 Court Admin...