Iowa courts’ guidance for carrying guns in courthouses updated

DES MOINES — County attorneys with professional permits may carry guns in Iowa courtrooms, keeping court policy in line with a 2024 state law, and judges, with approval from the state court administrator, also may carry guns in courtrooms, according to updated guidance published Friday by the Iowa Supreme Court.

The updated guidance is the result of a yearlong review of courthouse security conducted by the Iowa Supreme Court. The review began in June of 2024 after the passage of a new state law that allowed county attorneys with professional permits to carry guns in courthouses.

The latest order was issued Friday “following study and reflection,” according to the order as written by Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen.

The order states that weapons are prohibited in court-controlled spaces, which include courtrooms and court offices in any county courthouse, and courthouses used only for judicial branch functions.

The order also lays out multiple exceptions to the rule. Any law enforcement officer, permitted county attorney, or security officer as designated by the judicial branch is exempt from the order and thus may carry a gun in court spaces, according to the order.

Judges may carry a gun if granted authorization from the state court administrator, according to the order. The judge must have a non-professional weapons permit, firearm safety and training certification, and a written notice to their Chief Judge of their intent to request authorization to carry a gun.

“The purpose of this exception is to provide judicial officers with additional options for personal protection. The counties hold primary responsibility for security in county courthouses,” the order states.

If all of the requirements are met, the state court administrator will issue the authorization to carry unless there is “good cause to withhold,” according to the order. And the administrator may revoke authorization at any time for good cause.

Bob Gast is the current Iowa State Court Administrator. The position is responsible for day-to-day management of the Iowa court system, and the administrator is hired by the Iowa Supreme Court, according to the Iowa Judicial Branch’s website.

Judges must holster their guns with at least two restraints or must keep them and any ammunition secured in a locked safe or handgun retention device or in their vehicle, according to the order.

The order also allows contractors and judicial branch employees performing facilities-related duties to carry knives and similar tools that are necessary for their work. Judges, with approval from the state court administrator, may carry small knives whose blades are no longer than 5 inches.

The Iowa Supreme Court in 2017 issued an order that banned weapons in all courthouses and justice centers across the state. A few months later, the court issued a second order clarifying the authority of chief judges to allow guns to be carried in public areas of a courthouse “not totally occupied by the court system.”

That order was further updated in 2024 after passage of the law allowing permitted county attorneys to carry in courtrooms.

Comments: (515) 355-1300, erin.murphy@thegazette.com

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