Christensen Remains Chief Justice in Iowa
A graduate of the Creighton University School of Law will remain the chief justice of the Iowa Supreme Court.
The court reselected Justice Susan Christensen of Harlan as chief justice at its first meeting of the year, the court announced. The justices designate the chief justice by majority vote for two-year terms.
Christensen was named Iowa chief justice following the retirement of Acting Chief Justice David Wiggins in February 2020.
“After a very challenging first 10 months, I am honored to continue to serve as chief justice of Iowa’s court system,” Christensen said. “I have seen how the judges and employees of the Judicial Branch responded to the pandemic and derecho, and I could not be more proud of their efforts.”
Christensen said everyone in the Iowa Judicial Branch has responded quickly to keep courts as open as possible while protecting Iowa communities.
“I am humbled to lead such a resilient group of public servants,” Christensen said.
In addition to judicial duties, the chief justice presides over oral arguments and court conferences, sets the court’s oral argument schedule and delivers an annual address to the Legislature. She is the administrative head of the Iowa Judicial Branch and works with the state court administrator to manage operations. The chief justice also appoints members to court committees and task forces to propose policies and rules of procedure and practice.
Christensen was appointed to the Iowa Supreme Court in 2018 by Gov. Kim Reynolds. She was retained by Iowa voters in November 2020 and will be up for retention again in November 2028. Prior to her appointment to the Supreme Court, Christensen was selected as a district associate judge in 2007 and appointed a district court judge in 2015.
Before becoming a judge, she practiced law in Harlan for 16 years. Christensen chairs the Children’s Justice State Council. She is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association, the Southwest Iowa Bar Association and the Shelby County Bar Association. Christensen was born and raised in Harlan. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Judson College in 1988 and her law degree from Creighton in 1991.
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