Johnson County
Johnson County was established in 1837 and named after Lulu Johnson, an American historian. According to the latest census report in the US, the county's population of over 152,000 residents is the fourth highest in Iowa. It also occupies a land area of 613 square miles in its home state. The county's largest city and seat of government is Iowa City.
The Johnson County District Court is the county's only trial court. It handles all criminal and civil cases, such as misdemeanors, felonies, property disputes, contract breaches, and other monetary claims without financial limits. The District Court operates within Iowa's Judicial District 6 and has divisions for specific legal matters. For instance, the Juvenile Court Office handles all court proceedings involving minors in Johnson County. This includes termination of parental rights, abortion, juvenile delinquency, and children in need of assistance. The District Court also has a Probate Division tasked with addressing probate matters such as the administration of decedents' estates, trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships.
Johnson County public court records are official files that provide information on the proceedings and outcomes of court cases in the District Court. These records often serve as important references for future court cases. Court records in Johnson County are also great resources for the public, helping people understand legal issues, defend their rights, and learn about the law. In line with the Iowa Open Records Law, the following court records are publicly accessible in Johnson County:
- Civil records
- Small claims court records
- Probate records
- Property records
- Criminal court records
Meanwhile, court records showing mental health and juvenile cases are accessible only to recognized parties to the cases. The Clerk of Court in Johnson County maintains and distributes public court records to interested persons. To obtain court documents, individuals can send written requests to the Clerk via email or in person at:
417 South Clinton Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Phone: (319) 356-6060
Email: Johnson.County.Clerk@iowacourts.gov
Note that the Clerk of Court may request search or copy fees before granting access to desired court documents. Also, individuals interested in confidential court records must provide valid IDs to access the case files. Johnson County public court records are accessible online free of charge via the Iowa Courts Online Search. Requesters can search the state's database using the names of involved parties, case IDs, or citation numbers.
