SW Iowa Times

Iowa courts received orders regarding COVID-19 protocols. 

As of Dec. 6, the court has ordered over 30 supervisory orders regarding COVID-19 since March 12, 2020. 

"All people entering court-controlled spaces must wear a face mask," an Iowa Supreme Court order, written by Chief Justice Susan Christensen and filed Dec. 6, said. "This requirement applies regardless of a person’s vaccination status." 

Courts may have civil court proceedings, excluding trials, held by videoconference or telephone. The requirements for the courts apply to all counties in the state, independent of the local area’s positivity rate or transmission status, the Associated Press reported. Each one of the 99 counties in Iowa, as of Dec. 6, are considered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be experiencing a high rate of COVID-19.

Iowa does not have any other personal protective requirements pertaining to the coronavirus pandemic, the AP reported. There is currently an ongoing legal fight pertaining to mask mandates in Iowa schools. Even with the courtroom mask requirement, judges are still allowed to grant the right for individuals to remove their masks while in court. 

This order was recommended by a federal task force for health reasons, according to AP. The judicial branch in Iowa had been taking measures against the coronavirus as far back as March 2020.