Iowa Courts Will Not Succumb To Virus, Chief Justice Says

DES MOINES — Iowa’s courts are still operating, even if only at emergency levels, the chief justice of the state’s Supreme Court said Friday.In an effort to help slow the spread of the coronavirus in Iowa, the state’s court system was largely shuttered by a March 17 order by Chief Justice Susan Christensen.The order temporarily halted all criminal and civil trials, ordered all initial appearances and bond reviews to be held remotely and for in-person proceedings to be held only in cases of emergency, like protective orders for domestic or elder abuse, mental health hospitalization or the protective removal of children.“In spite of these unprecedented measure measures,” she said during Gov.