Sound courts make Iowa a good place for business

The Chief Justice of Iowa’s Supreme Court, Mark Cady, delivered the State of the Judiciary address on January 11.

Justice Cady said confidence in Iowa’s legal system is a key ingredient for growth and prosperity. That’s because businesses want to operate in a state with a fair, efficient and stable court system that assures them that “their investment will be fully protected under the rule of law in the same way individual rights are maintained.”

Iowa’s courts have an outstanding national reputation. The foundation for our court system was laid by Iowa’s first leaders in the 1800s when they recognized the need “to properly guard both the lives of the waves of people who were entering this state at the time and the resources these people were investing into the state.”

In addition to being one of the fairest and most impartial systems in the country, Iowa’s courts are known for transparency. We have cameras in the courtroom and an award-winning judicial branch website (www.iowacourts.gov), where citizens can easily find the information they need. Over the last year, the Iowa Supreme Court has heard arguments in communities across the state, giving more Iowans a chance to witness proceedings firsthand.  

By continuing to invest in our courts, we can serve Iowans’ legal needs, ensure a safe future for our children, and maintain a climate that boosts economic growth.