In the Balance

This month on the In the Balance podcast, our guest is Judge Dustria Ann Relph. She is the Chair of the District 5B Judicial Nominating Commission. She shares her insights on the Judicial Nominating Commission membership, process , and its important role in selecting judges . Judicial Nominating Commissions Website: https://www.iowajnc.gov/district-commissions Website: www.iowacourts.gov YouTube:...

This month on the In the Balance podcast, our guest is District Associate Judge Richelle Mahaffey. She shares her insights on Adoption Day in her courtroom. Judge Mahaffey serves in Iowa’s 8th Judicial District and has presided over numerous adoption cases.  Website: www.iowacourts.gov YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iowacourts8702 X: https://twitter.com/IowaCourts   Music: Item Title:         ...

This month on In The Balance , our guest is Lora Socia, Classification and Compensation Analyst for the Iowa Judicial Branch. She shares her perspective on working for the Judicial Branch and the many reasons why people apply for open positions. Host: Abhash Shrestha  Guests: Lora Socia  Website: www.iowacourts.gov YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iowacourts8702 X: https://twitter.com/IowaCourts...

This month on In The Balance , our guest is Justice David May of the Iowa Supreme Court. He shares his insights on the Separation of Powers. Justice May was appointed to the Court in 2022 and currently serves on the bench.  Host: Abhash Shrestha  Guests: Justice David May     Website: www.iowacourts.gov YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iowacourts8702 X: https://twitter.com/IowaCourts   Music: Ite...

This month on In The Balance , our guests are Tre Critelli and Tara Van Brederode, whose new booklet contains valuable insights into key considerations when working with lawyers from both the public’s and the lawyer’s perspectives. Host: Abhash Shrestha  Guests: Tre Critelli , Executive Director of the Office of Professional Regulation, and Tara Van Brederode , Director of Attorney Discipline for...

This month on In The Balance, Abhash discusses the Iowa Judicial Branch Building Tour. Since 2023, he has been managing and leading these tours. He explains what the tour entails and how to book one for your group Host: Abhash Shrestha    Website: www.iowacourts.gov YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iowacourts8702 X: https://twitter.com/IowaCourts   Music: Item Title:                      Inspirat...

This month on In The Balance , we welcome Alison Jepsen, Deputy Director of Judicial Education and Development. She discusses training for judicial officers, preparing them to excel as new judges.    Website: www.iowacourts.gov YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iowacourts8702 X: https://twitter.com/IowaCourts   Music: Item Title:                      Inspirational Strings Logo Item URL:           ...

This month on the In the Balance podcast, our guest is retired Iowa Supreme Court Justice Bruce Zager. He shares personal insights from his legal career and offers thoughtful suggestions for new attorneys. Website: www.iowacourts.gov YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iowacourts8702 X: https://twitter.com/IowaCourts   Music: Item Title:                      Inspirational Strings Logo Item URL:     ...

This month, the In The Balance podcast hosts Iowa Court of Appeals Chief Judge Mary Tabor and Staff Attorney Cassie Bonefas. We talk all about the reasons for taking the court on the road and the responses they receive from the communities they visit.  Host: Abhash Shrestha Guests: Chief Judge Mary Tabor and Cassie Bonefas Website: www.iowacourts.gov YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iowacourts870...

This month, the In The Balance podcast hosts Magistrates Beth Tiggis and A. Eric Neu. They serve Polk and Carroll counties respectively. We discuss the expectations and preparation required to represent yourself in courts.   Host: Abhash Shrestha First guest: Magistrate Beth Tigges Second guest: Magistrate A. Eric Neu Website: www.iowacourts.gov YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iowacourts8702 X:...

This month, In The Balance podcast hosts Judge Brent Pattison, Associate Judge for District 5C. He shares his perspective on the adoption process and its impact on the families involved. Host: Abhash Shrestha Guest: Judge Brent Pattison Website: www.iowacourts.gov YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iowacourts8702 X: https://twitter.com/IowaCourts   Music: Item Title:                      Inspiratio...

This month, the In The Balance Podcast hosts Chris Kunej, Director of the Language Access Services Office for the Iowa Judicial Branch. We talk about the important role of interpreters in the Iowa court system and what makes their role an essential service.   Host: Abhash Shrestha  Guest: Chris Kunej  Website: www.iowacourts.gov YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iowacourts8702 X: https://twitter.c...

This month, the In The Balance Podcast hosts Leo Landis. He is the State Curator of the State Historical Society of Iowa as well as the Museum Curator of State Historical Museum of Iowa. We discuss the people and stories behind Iowa’s three constitutional conventions. You can find more information about the 1857 Iowa Constitutional Convention” here . Host: Abhash Shrestha Guest: Leo Landis Website...

This month, In The Balance Podcast hosts Dr. Roxann Ryan. Dr. Ryan began practicing law in the Iowa Attorney General’s Criminal Appeals Division in 1980 and has been involved with numerous state agencies and legal associations.  She is also an adjunct instructor at Drake Law School, Simpson College and University of Northern Iowa. Host: Abhash Shrestha Guest: Dr. Roxann Ryan Download ISBA PowerPoi...

This month, the In The Balance Podcast hosts Jessica Taylor, director of Boards and Commissions for the Office of Professional Regulation, which oversees a grant program that helps fund organizations that provide legal assistance to low-income Iowans with civil legal problems.  Host: Abhash Shrestha  Guest: Jessica Taylor   Website: www.iowacourts.gov YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iowacourts87...

 This month, I spoke with magistrate Christin Skilton, the magistrate in Chickasaw County. We discussed her role, her service and her motivation working for the Iowa Judicial Branch.  Host: Abhash Shrestha  Guest: Magistrate Christine Skilton Website: www.iowacourts.gov YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iowacourts8702 X: https://twitter.com/IowaCourts   Music: Item Title:                      Insp...

This month, I spoke with Savannah Hanning, the trial court supervisor in Linn County. We discussed her career and her experiences working in the Iowa Judicial Branch.  Host: Abhash Shrestha  Guest: Savannah Hanning    Website: www.iowacourts.gov YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iowacourts8702 X: https://twitter.com/IowaCourts   Music: Item Title:                      Inspirational Strings Logo It...

This month, I had a fascinating chat with Tim Eckley, who works as the assistant counsel for the Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court. We talked about the free Iowa court forms available on the Iowacourts.gov website, and how they are the essential tools for people in court without an attorney. Host: Abhash Shrestha  Guest: Timothy Eckley    Court Forms: https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-publi...

This month I spoke with Iowa Supreme Courts senior law clerk Anna Stoeffler. We discussed her educational journey, her decision to go to law school, and what to expect when pursuing a law career. Host: Abhash Shrestha Guest: Anna Stoeffler, Senior Law Clerk to Chief Justice Christensen.   Website: www.iowacourts.gov YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iowacourts8702 X: https://twitter.com/IowaCourts...

  Welcome back.  In this episode of in the balance we focus on the benefits of the Iowa Business Court. I spoke to Iowa Supreme Court Justice Thomas Waterman and Business Court Judge David Nelmark to discuss how the business court moves complex commercial litigation cases through the court system more expeditiously, lowering costs for litigants and the court system.    Host: Abhash Shrestha  Guest...

A quick update: this will be my last month hosting the In the Balance podcast for the Iowa Judicial Branch. I will be turning the reins over to our new host and producer, Abhash, in January, so keep your eyes and ears out for those exciting new developments. For my last podcast interview, I wanted to introduce one of the newest members to the Iowa Judicial Branch, Megan Tooker, Counsel to the Chie...

This month I am going to walk you through the evolution of the Iowa court system, taking us through the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Host: Marissa Gaal 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/ 

Welcome back. This month I chatted with Tre Critelli, executive director of the office of professional regulation, about the functions and duties of his office’s work with Iowa’s attorneys and how that work protects Iowans who come into contact with the judicial system. Host: Marissa Gaal Guest: Tre Critelli, Executive Director of the The Office of Professional Regulation Music from The Epic 2 by...

In honor of Constitution Day on September 14, In the Balance is releasing an early episode on the topic of Gideon v. Wainwright, a federal supreme court decision celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.  Host: Marissa Gaal Guest: Chief Justice Susan Larson Christensen, Iowa Supreme Court Music from The Epic 2 by Rafael Krux Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5384-the-epic-2- License: http://creati...

This month I spoke with Richard Lyford, who has worked with the Iowa Judicial Branch over the past 20 years to collect and record personal oral histories from past Iowa supreme court justices and judges. To learn more about his work preserving Iowa’s judicial history, keep listening. You can watch past Iowa justices and judges oral histories here . Host: Marissa Gaal Guest: Richard Lyford