Building a court navigator program model in Iowa

Background

Based on recommendations from the Iowa Access to Justice Commission, the Iowa Supreme Court established the Iowa Judicial Branch Court Navigators Pilot Project Task Force in February 2024 to create a court navigators pilot project to assist self-represented litigants in Clinton County, Iowa. Task force membership included key stakeholders such as the Iowa Access to Justice Commission, Iowa Judicial Branch, and Iowa State Court Administration.

Launching a pilot

NCSC provided technical support to launch a one-year pilot program in Clinton County, with a population of about 46,000. 

The first group of court navigators served at the Clinton County Courthouse from May to August 2025 and included three volunteer students from the University of Iowa.  Court staff trained the navigators on relevant processes and procedures, how to handle local referrals, and the limits of their role as navigators  —  court navigators provide only information and cannot provide legal advice.

During this initial pilot term, the navigators assisted court users three days a week by providing information, such as referrals to relevant forms, and offering support for electronic filing and resource identification.

Sharing guidance & expertise

NCSC closely collaborated with the Iowa Judicial Branch throughout the pilot and will continue to support these efforts as the Iowa Supreme Court and judicial branch consider how to scale and grow the navigator program.

During the initial pilot phase, NCSC worked with the court to develop a recruitment plan, build relationships with local educational institutions, assist with training volunteer navigators, and create training materials. A resource repository and interactive forms guide was also created to ensure consistency and will undergo updates and improvements as the program evolves.

Additionally, NCSC worked with the navigators and the task force to implement a data collection plan to help evaluate outcomes and inform potential program expansion across the state.

Evaluating results

Even from a limited sample, the initial Clinton County navigator pilot has been hugely informative. Sample data shows trends in the types of cases court users are seeking assistance with, which are consistent with preliminary projections. Additionally, data also suggests that court users typically request assistance in the initial stages of a case. 

As part of their training, the court navigators gained hands-on experience in a courthouse setting and observed live court proceedings. The court navigators also worked alongside clerk of court staff, facilitating an organic referral process that benefited court users.

Next steps

The Iowa Supreme Court and Iowa Judicial Branch are reviewing possible expansion across the state. Considerations include involving more local universities, community organizations, and retired court staff as navigators, as well as the possibility of offering a hybrid virtual and in-person format, implementation of a scheduling system, and a formal externship program.