Iowa Supreme Court ends mask mandate in court spaces

DES MOINES — The Iowa Supreme Court on Friday announced it will no longer require face coverings in the court-controlled areas of county courthouses though judges will have discretion to require masks in their courtrooms.

Chief Justice Susan Christensen removed the face covering requirement last year for court-controlled spaces but reinstated it after the surge in new COVID-19 cases.

At that time, the court gave judges the discretion to allow those in their courtrooms to remove their masks or to take other measures to mitigate the spread of the virus.

“The court instituted this requirement again to address concerns with the rising Delta variant and kept it in place when the Omicron variant followed,” Christensen said in the order effective Monday.

“With both variants now on the wane, we find it appropriate to end this protocol.”

As before, judges have the discretion to address coronavirus-related safety measures in their courtrooms on a case-by-case basis, the order stated.

The court will continue to monitor virus cases and update guidance as necessary.

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com