The Iowa Supreme Court issued a supervisory order May 22 that states face-to-face court proceedings will resume July 13, with some counties possibly starting up sooner if court operations meet safety standards.

Only emergency and essential hearings have been held face-to-face since March 14, with most proceedings held by phone or videoconference.

The court also issued an order listing case priority. The top priorities are emergency matters such as substance abuse commitments, waiver of parental notification of abortion, mental health commitments, relief from sexual assault, emergency removal orders in juvenile cases, relief from domestic abuse, injunctive relief involving an imminent threat of serious harm to health and safety and criminal warrants.

Dissolution of marriage not involving children, foreclosure actions, civil actions for recovery of money damages, small claims, administrative appeals under Chapter 17A, probate other than guardianship and other law and equity cases are listed as the lowest priority for Iowa courts.

– Scott Stewart