Task Force on Judicial Compensation & Adequate Support Services
Update from the State Capitol
Call up your President and tell him how it is!

Task Force on Judicial Compensation & Adequate Support Services

As authorized by the Board of Governors during the December meeting, the Bar is hosting a task force on judicial compensation and support services. The task force is chaired by Gov. Robert Ray and includes business leaders Jim Cownie, Gary Kirke, Bill Knapp, Dwayne McAninich, Marcia Nichols, Marvin Pomerantz, Sandra Rasmussen, Dean David Walker (Drake) and Dean Carolyn Jones (Iowa). They are very impressed with the high caliber of men and women on the Bench and believe that they should be fairly compensated for their efforts.

The bar association seeks your ideas, comments and suggestions as to fully and appropriately compensating Iowa’s jurists. What is an appropriate increase in judicial compensation? Should the legislature increase funding to enable judges to have law clerks, bailiffs and other support services? Is increasing the budget for judges’ travel among the counties within a judicial district a high priority? Do you have any ideas to increase judicial efficiency?

Email us with your ideas, comments and suggestions at isba@iowabar.org.

Update from the State Capitol

The House Justice Appropriations committee has approved a budget for the justice systems appropriations. Their budget includes appropriations for the judicial branch and indigent defense. An amendment was offered to raise indigent defense by $5, but was defeated in committee. HF 811 ( justice appropriations) , will now be considered by the full House Appropriations committee. This bill appropriates $18.4 million to the public defender and $21.1 million to indigent defense. There is currently no increase in the hourly rates for indigent defense.

A $5 per hour increase will cost about $1.8 to $2 million in additional funding. The Public Defender’s Office supports the increase. We believe we can cover the increase by greater efficiencies.

HF 807 is the judicial branch appropriations and it appropriates approximately $118 million to the Supreme Court, which is approximately $7 million below its requested budget.

At the same time, HF 813 is pending in the House Ways & Means committee. HF 813 raises the speed limit to 70 mph on interstate highways only. It increases fines and the court costs for simple misdemeanors from $17 to $30. This bill will raise approximately $7 to $8 million and, if passed, will be used to fully fund the courts at their requested appropriation of $125.7 million.

Earlier this year we alerted you as to the court budget. We requested you provide a copy of your correspondence to our bar association lobbyist, Jim Carney. Jim has received very few copies of correspondence. This is a critical stage of the appropriations process. We urge you to contact your House and Senate members NOW to request that they support House File 813 which will raise the court costs for simple misdemeanors and further request that those funds be allocated to fully fund the court. Additionally, urge your House and Senate members to support an amendment to the justice appropriations bill that would increase court appointed attorney fees by $5 per hour. You must act now.

How to Contact Your Legislator

Today it is very easy to communicate with your local representatives and senators. You can do it by mail, phone, e-mail or meeting with them back in your home district. Here's how to reach state lawmakers during the legislative session:

SENATORS: Call (515) 281-3371 to reach the Iowa Senate switchboard.

REPRESENTATIVES: Call (515) 281-3221 to reach the Iowa House switchboard.

E-MAIL: A list of legislators and their e-mail addresses, as well as home contact information, is on the Web at www.legis.state.ia.us. Legislators read their e-mail. This is a great way to communicate with them.

MAIL: Send mail to members of the Legislature at the State Capitol, Des Moines, IA 50319.

WEB ACCESS: See calendars of legislative meetings, track legislation, find your lawmaker, and even listen to live debate on the General Assembly's Web site at: www.legis.state.ia.us.

Please copy Jim Carney, ISBA Lobbyist, on your correspondence. Jim's contact information is:

Jim Carney
Carney, Appleby, Nielsen & Skinner, P.L.C.
303 Locust Street, Suite 400
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
Telephone: (515) 282-6803
Facsimile: (515) 282-4700
carney@carneylawfirmiowa.com

Call up your President and tell him how it is!

Since July, ISBA members have had a Direct Line to President Nick Critelli. During Nick’s presidency, the first Friday of every month at 12:15 p.m. for about 45 minutes, members can call Nick’s “MEMBERS’ PARTY LINE” and talk with the president. He wants your opinions, comments, criticism, and whatever else you want to tell him! He wants to know how he’s doing or what you think he should be doing. The first Fridays remaining are April 1, May 6 and June 3, 2005.

It works like a conference call – At 12:15 p.m., dial 800-503-1676. When prompted, enter 701884 and you are on-line with Nick.

What you have on your mind is IMPORTANT. Tell him what you are thinking. Anything goes. Don’t pass up this opportunity to improve the Association. Get to hear the president’s thoughts on any facet of ISBA business. Make a contribution. It is a free call. If there is something bothering you or if you like something that is going on in the Association, do us all a favor and SPEAK UP.