8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

Please note the Clerk's Office will be closed the following days due to State Furlough Days:
        March 20, April 10, April 24, May 8, May 22, June 5 and June 19, 2009

 

The Clerk of Court is an entity of the Judicial Branch and has a wide variety of duties that are listed in Iowa Code Sections 602.8101 through 602.8109.  The Clerk is appointed by the Judges of the District Court and qualifies by taking the oath of office provided in Iowa Code Section 63.10 and giving bond as provided in Chapter 64.

 

Every state and the federal government have an independent judicial branch to interpret and apply state and federal laws to specific cases.  By providing a place where people can go to resolve disputes according to law, through a fair process, and before a knowledgeable and neutral judge or jury, the judicial branch helps to maintain peace and order in society.

 

The Courts handle a wide range of legal disputes over contracts, property; personal injuries; child custody, support and visitation; and other important issues.  Courts also determine whether traffic, criminal or juvenile laws have been violated, and if so, they determine the penalties to be imposed.

 

The Clerk of Court is the one who files the petitions, pleadings, orders, etc. in these cases and maintains the docket.  Until October 31, 1996, the docket was kept manually in large, bound books.  On November 1, 1996, the Clerk of Court’s office began docketing this information electronically with the Iowa Courts Information System (ICIS).