Revision alters rules on guns in courthouses

SIOUX CITY - A new order by the Iowa Supreme Court enables each county to seek to allow guns in public areas of courthouse floors that are not totally occupied by the court system.

The order could alter the dynamics of courthouse security in Iowa, particularly in Woodbury County where it has been a thorny issue among politicians.

Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady issued a two-page supervisory order Tuesday, updating his order of June, issued 12 days before an expanded gun rights bill took effect.

Cady's new order says that there can be a way for weapons to be carried on floors without court system elements. Other parts of his June order prohibiting guns where there are courtrooms remain in effect.

'Upon written request of a county board of supervisors, or other controlling entity, the chief judge shall modify the weapons prohibition imposed by the supervisory order by eliminating the prohibition in public areas on those floors of a courthouse not totally occupied by the court system,” Cady wrote.

Once a chief judge grants a modification, Cady wrote, 'the court relinquishes to the requesting entity any authority over the regulation of weapons in the public areas on a floor of a courthouse not totally occupied by the court system.”

Last year, Johnson County completed a $250,000 addition to its courthouse that includes a new public entrance with increased security, including metal detectors. The Linn County Courthouse also has a secure entrance and does not allow firearms.

Supervisors reached Wednesday said the order will have no effect in Johnson or Linn.

'We're not changing that. That's our position and we're going to keep it,” said Janelle Rettig, chairwoman of the Johnson County board.

Linn County Supervisor Brent Oleson said all Linn County government functions are located outside the courthouse, so the revised order won't have an impact.

'Our entire courthouse is for court functions,” he said. 'I support gun rights, but it doesn't even apply in this instance.”

But it could make a difference at the Woodbury County Courthouse in Sioux City, the focus of contentious debate since the Iowa Legislature passed a sweeping gun rights bill last spring.

Woodbury County Board Chairman Matthew Ung said he's glad the court 'retract(ed) its overreach displayed in its June 19th order” and showed 'some deference to separation of powers.”

'If the Sheriff's Office then continues to ban all lawful, permitted carry, their office would no longer only be in violation of county policy, but a court order as well,” he said.

Woodbury County Sheriff Dave Drew said he understood Cady's order. 'We will continue to comply with any orders that come from the court, as we have previously,” he said.

In June, a majority of Woodbury supervisors voted to rescind a ban on weapons on county property, including the courthouse. Supervisors said that was necessary to comply with the new state gun law.

However, Drew said at the time he would keep enforcing security protocols at the courthouse.

Since 2014, they have included using metal detectors to find weapons.

Mitchell Schmidt of The Gazette contributed to this report.