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Des Moines municipal court warns of rising caseloads, interpreter shortage; may seek more funding
Summary
Judge Lisa Leon told the Des Moines City Council that municipal court filings and hearings rose sharply through 2024 and into 2025, pushing schedules to capacity. The court highlighted rising criminal filings, interpreter shortages and space limits and said it may request additional staffing or judicial time in the future.
Judge Lisa Leon, judge of Des Moines Municipal Court, told the Des Moines City Council on April 24 that the court is handling steadily rising caseloads and is operating at or near full capacity.
The rising volume — including a 40% increase in criminal filings in the first quarter of 2025 — has lengthened calendars and pushed the court to book dates as far out "as court rules allow," Leon said. She warned the council that sustaining current service levels may require additional judicial time, staff and space.
The court’s workload covers misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor offenses, traffic infractions, photo enforcement citations, nuisance and abatement cases, animal control violations and vehicle-impound hearings. Leon said…
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