THE Volume 75 Number 8 November/December 2015 Page 6 Judge Scieszinski: leading the National Conference of State Trial Judges Page 12 State Public Defender addresses claims, appointments and more Page 8 Supreme Court Task Forces provide updates Reforming the Law Finding new solutions for a better future © 2015 Iowa Council of Foundations ENDOW IOWA TAX CREDIT PROGRAM Endow Iowa Smart for your clients, good for your community. Rewarding in more ways than one. Gifts That Give Back The Endow Iowa program is a smart way to help your clients amplify the impact With Endow Iowa, donations to community of their charitable gifts and receive maximum tax benefits. For 2015, $6 million foundations cost donors less. For example, in Endow Iowa tax credits are set aside to distribute to those who make gifts to a $10,000 gift could cost just $4,000.* permanently endowed funds at a qualified community foundation or affiliate. When they donate through community foundations and leverage the Endow Iowa Tax Gift: $10,000 Credit, your clients are not only helping their neighbors today—they’re building a Tax Credit: $2,500 stronger community tomorrow. Federal Deduction: $3,500 Total Tax Savings: $6,000 The credits are available on a statewide first-come, first-served basis, so talk to your Total Cost of Gift: $4,000 clients today about how they can take advantage of this unique opportunity. Or visit www.IowaCommunityFoundations.org for more information on Endow Iowa and We can help your clients get the most to find your local community foundation. and do the most for their community with gifts of any size. To learn more, please contact www.IowaCommunityFoundations.org. *Based on 35% marginal federal tax rate Find your local Community Foundation and learn more about the Endow Iowa Tax Credit Program at www.IowaCommunityFoundations.org. Iowa Community Foundations is an initiative of the © 2015 Iowa Council of Foundations THE Volume 75 Number 8 November/December 2015 The official publication of The Iowa State Bar Association. ENDOW IOWA TAX CREDIT PROGRAM EDITORIAL TEAM Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Ashlee J. L. Sherrill Virginia Sipes, J.D. 515-697-7896 515-697-6787 [email protected] [email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS Copy Editor General Inquiries Steve Boeckman 515-243-3179 Leading the National Conference of State Trial Judges 515-697-7869 [email protected] In this Q&A, Judge Annette Scieszinski talks about her appointment Endow as chair of the NCSTJ, goals she has set and the impact the NCSTJ [email protected] has had in Iowa and its legal community. Iowa THE IOWA LAWYER An interview with Judge Annette Scieszinski by the ISBA Communications Dept. (ISSN 1052-5327) The Iowa Lawyer Magazine is published bi-monthly with two special editions in 6 Smart for your clients, March and July by The Iowa State Bar Association, good for your community. 625 East Court Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa Iowa Supreme Court Task Force updates 50309-1904. Paid subscriptions are included in The Iowa Supreme Court’s Family Law Task Force and The Iowa State Bar Association membership fees. Guardianship & Conservatorship Reform Task Force share Subscriptions for non-members, $40 per year. updates on processes and progress. Periodicals postage paid at Des Moines, Iowa. Updates provided by the Supreme Court Task Forces POSTMASTER Send address changes to The Iowa lawyer Magazine, 625 East Court Avenue, Des Moines, 8 Iowa, 50309-1904. Members can contact the membership department to change their address Focused on fairness Gifts That Give Back by emailing [email protected]. Adam Gregg lines out an administrative rules package that Rewarding in more ways than one. his office intends to put forward including untimely claims, exceptions to the 45-day rule, invalid appointments, substitute PRINTER The Endow Iowa program is a smart way to help your clients amplify the impact counsel and more. With Endow Iowa, donations to community The Iowa Lawyer Magazine is printed by Colorfx, 10776 of their charitable gifts and receive maximum tax benefits. For 2015, $6 million By Adam Gregg, State Public Defender foundations cost donors less. For example, Aurora Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa, 50322. Telephone in Endow Iowa tax credits are set aside to distribute to those who make gifts to 515-270-0402. Art Director: Melissa Thompson. a $10,000 gift could cost just $4,000.* 12 permanently endowed funds at a qualified community foundation or affiliate. When ADVERTISING CLASSIFIED. Qualifying ISBA members receive two they donate through community foundations and leverage the Endow Iowa Tax Gift: $10,000 free non-job listings annually as a member benefit. FEATURES COLUMNS Members should contact the ISBA Communications Credit, your clients are not only helping their neighbors today—they’re building a Tax Credit: $2,500 Iowa’s low-income residents and the President’s letter .......................................5 Department for ad placement. Non-member classified civil justice system – Reynoldson ................. 14 Kudos ...................................................7 stronger community tomorrow. Federal Deduction: $3,500 ad rate is $110 at 125 words per listing. See classified Disciplinary opinions ................................ 24 Total Tax Savings: $6,000 section for further details. Give away your house but keep the keys – Fischer ........................ 16 Law student corner .................................. 25 The credits are available on a statewide first-come, first-served basis, so talk to your Total Cost of Gift: $4,000 DISPLAY. Display advertising in the Iowa Lawyer Thanks to speakers .................................. 26 Magazine is handled by Larson Enterprises, Inc., 909 LaMarca Law Group becomes 100 percent Iowa Transitions ........................................... 28 clients today about how they can take advantage of this unique opportunity. Or visit 50th Street, West Des Moines, Iowa, 50265. For display LawPAC contributor – Boeckman .................. 18 CLE opportunities .................................... 30 We can help your clients get the most advertising and non-member classified advertisement www.IowaCommunityFoundations.org for more information on Endow Iowa and Classifieds............................................ 34 rates, contact Alex Larson at 515-238-4406 or Board of Governors acts on legislative agenda, legal and do the most for their community to find your local community foundation. [email protected]. forms at quarterly meeting – Sipes ................. 20 Admission on motion ................................ 36 with gifts of any size. In memoriam ......................................... 37 SUBMISSIONS Investment advice: A lawyer’s limits – Boliver ..... 27 The Iowa State Bar Association seeks to publish IN BRIEF To learn more, please contact It runs in the family: Part II – Richardson ......... 38 original articles that advance the education, com- Save the date 2016 ....................................4 www.IowaCommunityFoundations.org. petence, ethical practice and public responsibility ISBA Rural Practice Committee seeks of Iowa lawyers. Members are encouraged to submit attorneys willing to hire in 2016 .....................11 articles and manuscripts to the editor for possible Free on-demand CLE for attorneys with *Based on 35% marginal federal tax rate publication. Submissions should be no longer than five or fewer years of practice .......................15 1,500 words, although exceptions can be made. Incorporate footnotes into the writing. Include a short bio of the author(s) and professional photo(s) when submitting. NOTE: Not all submissions are THE Volume 75 Number 8 November/December 2015 ABOUT THE COVER guaranteed publication. The editors and bar leaders Iowa lawyers are evaluating laws and legal processes to review all submissions to a make a determination improve the legal system for the benefit of everyone in Iowa. of suitability for publication. Email all submissions Page 6 In this issue, Judge Annette Scieszinski shares her goals as Judge Scieszinski: leading to [email protected] in Microsoft the National Conference of State Trial Judges Page 12 State Public Defender chair of the National Conference of State Trial Judges, the Iowa Word format. addresses claims, appointments and more Supreme Court’s Family Law Task Force and Guardianship and STATEMENTS OR OPINIONS Conservatorship Reform Task Force share recent updates and The statements and opinions in this publication State Public Defender Adam Gregg explores a number of changes are those of the authors and not necessarily those to keep fairness in mind. Find your local Community Foundation and learn of The Iowa State Bar Association. Readers should Page 8 more about the Endow Iowa Tax Credit Program at Supreme Court Task consult original sources of authority to verify Forces provide updates As always, we welcome your thoughts and opinions. If you would www.IowaCommunityFoundations.org. exactness. Advertising in this publication does not Reforming the Law like to share any comments, please send them to the editor at constitute endorsement of a product or service [email protected]. Iowa Community Foundations is an initiative of the unless specifically stated. Finding new solutions for a better future THE IOWA LAWYER November/December 2015 3 SAVE THE DATE The Iowa State Bar Association 625 East Court Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa, 50309-1904 Main: 515-243-3179 Fax: 515-243-2511 www.iowabar.org [email protected] PRESIDENT Bruce L. Walker Iowa City 319-354-1104 [email protected]