The Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court is retiring later this year. 71-year-old Chief Justice Arthur McGiverin of Ottumwa has been on the Iowa Supreme Court for 21 years. He has been the high court’s Chief Justice for the last 12 years. The Iowa native graduated from Cedar Rapids McKinley High, then attended the University of Iowa, where he earned his law degree.He started practicing law in Ottumwa in 1956.In his last “State of the Judiciary” message, McGiverin says in the future, the court system must change itself to maintain its vital role in society.McGiverin delivered a budget request to legislators this morning, asking for a four-and-a-half percent increase. The bulk of the extra dollars would be spent hiring new staff for the judicial branch and upgrading the Iowa Court Information System. McGiverin is spearheading a drive to bolster security in courtrooms throughout the state. Guidelines for courthouse security say courtrooms and court offices should be equipped with silent alarms — and a judge’s courtroom bench should have some type of bullet-proof barrier. The guidelines call for a magnetometer to be available in each courtroom around the state. Those and other recommendations cost money — and Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Arthur McGiverin says state legislators should provide counties with grant money to improve courthouse security.McGiverin and a task force studying courthouse security will meet Friday to review the plan — and how to finance security improvements.
