Judge Julie A. Schumacher of the Iowa Court of Appeals outlined on Mar. 31 the court’s ongoing focus on achieving timely permanency for children under its jurisdiction, highlighting recent initiatives and historical context surrounding juvenile appeals in Iowa.
The topic is important because decisions made by the courts directly affect the lives and futures of children and families involved in juvenile cases. Ensuring that these cases are resolved quickly can help provide stability and well-being for some of Iowa’s most vulnerable citizens.
Schumacher said that about one-third of the Iowa Court of Appeals’ caseload involves juvenile appeals, which are further divided into delinquency, child-in-need-of-assistance adjudication and disposition, and termination of parental rights. In 2025, out of 1,076 opinions filed by the court, 247 were juvenile appeals with 217 involving termination of parental rights. She noted that while reviewing electronic records may seem detached from real life, “these appeals center on young children waiting for, and often worrying about, a decision.” The judge also emphasized that many issues bringing children to court go beyond neglect to include generational trauma, mental health difficulties, substance use issues, and housing insecurity.
Efforts to expedite these cases have been ongoing for decades. Schumacher described how a Juvenile Task Force committee formed in 2000 led to new appellate rules adopted by the Iowa Supreme Court in 2002 aimed at speeding up child welfare and termination appeals. These included changes such as petition-based appeals instead of full briefing and required continued representation by trial attorneys during appeal processes.
More recently, Schumacher highlighted a task force established in 2018 to prepare for implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act signed into law on Feb. 9 that year. She said this provided an opportunity not just for compliance but also strengthening removal prevention efforts within Iowa’s system through collaboration among judges, officers from various agencies including Health and Human Services.
In addition to rule changes regarding expedited appellate procedures—reviewed again by a task force chaired by Schumacher in 2024—the article notes another group was formed in February 2025 under Judge Sharon Soorholtz Greer to review standards for parental representation in juvenile court proceedings. Their report aims “to serve as a foundational framework to ensure that every child involved in the juvenile court system receives zealous and ethical advocacy,” according to Schumacher.
Looking ahead after fifty years since its founding anniversary this year, Schumacher concluded: “Through continued collaboration we can impact the future of Iowa through preservation of families… our work can provide decisions that form the basis for timely permanency for Iowa’s children.”
