Rule 1.903.Trial of issues; reporting

Division IX: Trial and Judgment · Last amended October 9, 2009 · Last verified July 15, 2026

In one sentenceRule 1.903 sends jury-demanded issues to a jury unless the court finds no right to one or all parties waive it, requires every trial proceeding to be reported in detail unless the parties waive reporting, and requires the court reporter to file a memorandum documenting each reported proceeding.

Full Text of Rule 1.903

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1.903(1) Trial of issues. All issues shall be tried to the court except those for which a jury is demanded. Issues for which a jury is demanded shall be tried to a jury unless the court finds that there is no right thereto or all parties appearing at the trial waive a jury in writing or orally in open court.

(2) Reporting. Unless waived by the parties, all trial proceedings shall be reported including:

a. All oral comments or statements of the court during the progress of the trial, any objections, and the court's rulings.

b. The proceedings impaneling the jury, any objections, and the court's rulings.

c. Opening statements, any objections, and the court's rulings.

d. The oral testimony, offers of proof, any objections, and the court's rulings.

e. The fact that the testimony was closed to the public.

f. The identification of exhibits, by letter or number or other appropriate mark, all written or other evidence offered, any objections, and the court's rulings.

g. All motions or other pleas made during the trial, any objections, and the court's rulings.

h. Closing arguments, any objections, and the court's rulings.

i. The return of the verdict.

j. Any other proceedings before the court or jury which might be preserved and made of record by a bill of exceptions.

(3) Court reporter memorandum. Promptly after reporting a proceeding a court reporter shall file a memorandum that includes all of the following:

a. The type of proceeding that was reported.

b. The date(s) on which the proceeding occurred.

c. The name of the court reporter who reported the proceeding.

d. The name of the judge who presided over the proceeding.

e. The reporting fee for the proceeding. The court reporter shall use the court reporter memorandum form found in rule 1.1901, form 12. The form shall be signed by the court reporter. The court reporter is not required to serve the memorandum on the parties. The district court clerk shall enter the memorandum on the docket. This memorandum shall constitute the certification required by Iowa Code section 624.10.

(4) Transcripts--rates for transcribing a court reporter's official notes. Pursuant to Iowa Code section 602.3202, the maximum compensation of shorthand reporters for transcribing their official notes shall be as provided in Iowa Ct. R. 22.28.

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Plain-English Summary

Rule 1.903 draws the line between what a jury decides and what the court decides. Every issue goes to the court unless a jury has been demanded for it; issues with a jury demand go to a jury unless the court finds there is no right to one, or every party appearing at trial waives the jury — in writing or by saying so in open court.

The rule then makes a detailed record the default. Unless the parties waive reporting, everything of consequence at trial gets reported: the court's own comments and rulings, jury impaneling, opening statements, testimony and offers of proof, whether testimony was closed to the public, how exhibits were identified and what evidence came in, motions made during trial, closing arguments, the return of the verdict, and anything else that could otherwise only be preserved through a bill of exceptions.

Rule 1.903(3) then puts a paper trail behind that reporting duty. Promptly after a proceeding is reported, the court reporter must file a memorandum on the required form, described in Rule 1.1901 — noting the type of proceeding, the dates it occurred, the reporter's and judge's names, and the reporting fee — signed by the reporter and entered on the docket by the clerk. That memorandum serves as the certification the reporting statute requires, and the reporter does not have to serve it on the parties.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which issues go to a jury and which go to the court?

Rule 1.903(1) sends all issues to the court except those for which a jury is demanded. Issues with a jury demand go to a jury unless the court finds there is no right to a jury on that issue, or every party appearing at trial waives it in writing or orally in open court.

Is everything at trial recorded by a court reporter?

Unless the parties waive reporting, yes — Rule 1.903(2) lists a detailed set of proceedings that must be reported, from the court's comments and rulings through jury selection, testimony, exhibits, motions, closing arguments, and the verdict.

What does the court reporter have to file after a proceeding is reported?

Rule 1.903(3) requires a memorandum, on the form referenced in Rule 1.1901, stating the type of proceeding, the dates it occurred, the reporter's and judge's names, and the reporting fee, signed by the reporter and entered on the docket by the clerk.

Does the court reporter have to serve that memorandum on the parties?

No. Rule 1.903(3) specifically states the court reporter is not required to serve the memorandum on the parties.

Can the parties agree to skip reporting the trial?

Yes. Rule 1.903(2) makes reporting the default but allows the parties to waive it.

Source & verification. Rule text and the Comment are reproduced verbatim from the Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the Iowa Supreme Court. Last verified July 15, 2026. · Official source

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