U.S. Magistrate Jon Scoles reappointed

CEDAR RAPIDS - U.S. Chief Magistrate for the Northern District Jon Scoles was recently reappointed for a second eight year term.

The Merit Selection Panel was appointed a few months ago to assess his performance and consider comments from members of the bar and public on his character, judgment, legal ability, temperament, and commitment to justice under the law. Scoles has served as magistrate on the federal bench since 2007.

Cedar Rapids Attorney John Lane, chairman of the panel, said there were many letters submitted by the public regarding Scoles reappointment and 'not one of them had a negative sentence.” The process took about three to four months from the time the public notice was published to the panel's review in accordance with federal law and regulations of Judicial Conference of the United States.

The recommendation of the panel was unanimous, Lane said.

'He was the perfect choice when he was first appointed,” Lane said. 'He had the experience serving as district court judge and then serving as a Second Judicial District chief judge. He wasn't an attorney or judge in this area, so he was a neutral party to everybody.”

Other members on the panel were attorneys John Gray of Sioux City, Beth Hansen of Waterloo, Anne Laverty and Kevin Visser, both of Cedar Rapids. The non-lawyers were community members Liz Mathis, Dale Todd, both of Cedar Rapids.

Scoles was born in Charles City in 1951. After earning a bachelors of art degree from the University of Northern Iowa in 1973, he taught math and coached for three years. Scoles then received his law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1979 and moved to Mason City, where he clerked for the judges in the Second Judicial District.

Following his clerkship, Scoles joined the firm of DeVries, Scoles, and Price in Mason City. In October 1986, Scoles was appointed a Second Judicial District court judge. He was named assistant chief judge in 1992 and served as chief judge from February 2005 until his appointment to the federal bench March 20, 2007.

This reappointment reflects the court's 'unanimous respect for his excellent credentials and character and unwavering commitment to equal justice under the law,” Robert Phelps, district clerk of court, said in a new release.

The office of United States Magistrate Judge was established by the Federal Magistrates Act of 1968, enacted by the Congress to create a new federal judicial officer who would conduct a wide range of judicial proceedings to expedite the disposition of the civil and criminal caseloads of the U.S. district courts.