The Jefferson County Board of Supervisors will be discussing an Iowa Supreme Court Order at their Monday meeting.

Chief Justice Mark Cady issued an order on June 19 prohibiting weapons from all courthouses, excluding peace officers. The order states this is to make courtrooms safer for all Iowans. Supervisor Lee Dimmitt placed the discussion of this policy on the agenda, “My concern is the language that states, ‘This policy is to establish a safety perimeter for each courthouse or justice center that allows for,’ and I’m quoting here, ‘the efficient implementation and enforcement of a weapons prohibition.’ This appears to me to be something that’s going to cost the county money. Unless the legislature does something, we’re going to have to implement some procedure to provide for the enforcement of this policy that the Supreme Court Chief Justice handed down. I for one am not one that is likely to support any county tax dollars going to the enforcement of a policy edict at the state level.”

Cady’s policy states that 72 counties prohibit weapons in courtrooms and other judicial-controlled spaces in courthouses. The Jefferson County Courthouse already has a no weapons policy, though they do not have screening mechanisms or peace officers at the entryways searching for weapons. The Iowa Supreme Court says they understand the unique aspects of different courthouses, including cost efficiencies and employee policies, and that district court judges and county officials and employees should continue to work together to address local concerns, though consistent with the intent and objective of the written order.