Judical Retention Process Explained
Mahaska County Courthouse
In 1962, a constitutional amendment to the Iowa Constitution was approved that got rid of the election of judges and changed the process to a Merit Process. Every 2 years, Iowa holds a retention election to determine if a judge should be retained. If a judge receives a simple majority of yes votes, then they are retained for another full term. If they receive a majority of no votes, then they are removed from office at the end of the year. The retention election appears on the general election ballot. This year Oskaloosa residents will have the opportunity to decide on whether or not to retain 14 judges. These judges are:
Supreme Court Justices Chief Justice Marsha Ternus, Michael J. Streit, David L. Baker,
Court of Appeals Justices Gayle Vogel, Amanda Potterfield, Richard H. Doyle, Ed Mansfield, David R. Danilson,
8A Judicial District Court Judges Annette J. Scieszinski, Michael R. Mullins, Joel D. Yates,
8A District Associate Judges Kirk A. Daily, Randy DeGeest,
8A Associate Juvenile Judge William S. Owens.
The election will be held on the same day as the general election, November 2nd, 2010
