David Boyd to retire as state court administrator

DES MOINES - State Court Administrator David Boyd says he plans to retire in 2017 after putting in 40 years of continual service with the Iowa Judicial Branch - 14 years in his current post.

'I've been incredibly blessed,” Boyd said of his time with the Iowa courts system, which is to end when he leaves his judicial assignment on Sept. 7, 2017.

"At last count, I have had the opportunity to work for 29 of the 110 justices that have served on the Supreme Court, including six chief justices,” he noted. 'It has been my pleasure to serve with at least 50 court of appeals and district court chief judges, as well as at least 30 district court administrators.

'Most importantly, it has been my privilege to serve with literally thousands of judicial branch employees, the most dedicated and best public servants you could find anywhere."

Boyd joked that a countdown clock has been set up in the Iowa Judicial Building where he works with the Sept. 7 target date. He said that seemed like a good time to step down since the state would have a new two-year labor agreement in place and September marks the interim between when 2017 legislative and budget issues are wrapped up and a new cycle commences.

Boyd was appointed state court administrator May 13, 2003.

Before his appointment, he served as deputy state court administrator for 19 years. He was the District Court Administrator for the Third Judicial District of Iowa from 1977 to 1984.

In 2014, Boyd was named vice chairman of the board of directors of the National Center for State Courts and president of the Conference of State Court Administrators, a national organization that represents the top judicial administrators of the 50 states and U.S. territories.

As state court administrator, Boyd is the principal administrative officer of the Iowa Judicial Branch and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the state court system, which employees about 1,900 people and has a $178 million operating budget. He also serves as executive secretary to the Iowa Commission on Judicial Qualifications and the State Judicial Nominating Commission and is the administrator of the Iowa Judicial Retirement System.

"David Boyd has expertly led Iowa's court system through a series of tremendous changes and challenges to make the Iowa court system one of the most respected in the nation," said Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady.

"From guiding the transition from a county-based court system to a statewide unified court system, to directing the statewide implementation of electronic filing, David has proven himself to be a strong, well respected leader,” Cady added in a statement. 'His experience administering the courts, first as a district court administrator and then as the state court administrator, has been an invaluable resource for myself and the five chief justices who preceded me. While we wish David and his family nothing but peace and relaxation during his well-earned retirement, his wisdom will be greatly missed."

The Iowa Supreme Court is to begin the search for Boyd's successor the first of the year.

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