The District Court has general jurisdiction of all civil, criminal, probate, juvenile, adoption, domestic, abuse, mental health and substance abuse cases and is a court of record.  The Clerk of District Court is a state employee who has been appointed by the district court judges.  In each of Iowa's 99 counties the Clerk of District Court helps manage the caseload of the Judicial System.

It is the Clerk's duty to file and docket all pleadings in various cases, enter judgments, issue executions and maintain the records.  The Clerk is responsible for collecting and distributing child support payments and maintaining the child support records.  Also, collecting payment of fines in criminal actions which includes felony and indictable misdemeanors.  Among the duties of the Clerk of Court is impaneling, compensating and managing the jury system.

The Fourth Judicial District Court is in session every Monday from 9:30 - 12:00 in the courtroom on the third floor of the Shelby County courthouse.  If you have been selected for jury duty, report to the clerk's office, Room 301 on the third floor.  Please dress respectably; business or business-casual clothing is acceptable.  Unacceptable clothing includes:  shorts, tube tops, halter tops, clothing that contains any obscene, suggestive or inflammatory print or images, and clothes that are overly dirty or ragged.

Jury service information:

• There are free parking lots within a one-block radius of the courthouse.
• Security is available for high-security cases.
• Absences or emergencies, please call 712-755-5543.
• Hearing impaired, call Relay Iowa TTY at 1-800-735-3942
• Contact district ADA Coordinator at 712-328-5883 if you require the assistance of auxiliary aids to participate in Court because of a disability.

Jurors are reimbursed for travel at $0.40/mile round trip.  Compensation is $30 per day for each day of jury service up to seven days; $50 per day for eight or more days of service.  You may waive the right to compensation, which will help reduce the state's cost of operating the court system.

Magistrate Court processes traffic court citations.  Unpaid fees are reported by the Magistrate's office and the Clerk of Court's office to the Department of Transportation and the Department of Revenue and Finance for further collection. 

Magistrates have jurisdiction over simple misdemeanors, including scheduled violations, county and municipal infractions, and small claims. Magistrates have authority to issue search warrants, conduct preliminary hearings, and hear certain involuntary hospitalization matters.  Small claims cases consisting of money judgments less than $4000 are filed with the Clerk of Court.  Contested cases are heard by Magistrate William T. Early.