The Ombudsman does not have jurisdiction over courts, judges, or their staff. We cannot review or overturn a court decision, whether made by a judge or jury. According to the Judicial branch website, if the sole basis of your complaint is that you disagree with the outcome of a case, filing a complaint is not the way to proceed. Complaint forms and procedures are not a substitute for an appeal and they will not alter the outcome of a court order or judgment. If your purpose is to have a higher court review the merits of an order or decision, you should file an appeal.
Representing yourself in court
The Iowa Judicial Branch website has some helpful information about representing yourself in court, including court forms you can download.
Visit: https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/representing-yourself/
Find an attorney
The Ombudsman cannot refer you to a specific attorney, However, you can look up Iowa attorneys who practice in the area you need at:
https://www.iowabar.org/?pg=Find-A-LawyerHP
Complaints about judges, attorneys, and court staff
For information about filing a complaint against judges, attorneys, and court staff, visit:
Tips for Making a Complaint
► Ask if you can speak with a supervisor or manager about your issue.
► Clearly explain what your issue is and what you’d like the outcome to be.
► Write down the names of the people you speak with, when you spoke with them and what they said.
► Make the conversation about what you need, be persistent but remain calm and polite.
► If you are still unsatisfied, ask what appeal and review processes are available and pay close attention to their criteria and deadlines.
Not Sure? Contact Us!
Please contact us directly if you don’t think it would be appropriate for us to require you to go through an available complaint or review process before we consider your complaint. We can consider your specific circumstances before we decide – including the urgency of your complaint or any disabilities or barriers you may be experiencing.
