1.435(1) The chief judge of each judicial district shall provide by order for motion days to be held each month in each county, when all pretrial motions on file 14 days or more shall be deemed submitted unless a hearing has been set or another time for submission is fixed by rule, statute, or order of court entered for good cause shown. A party who has been served with original notice or has appeared shall take notice of the regular motion day on which motions will be heard.
Rule 1.435.Motion days; submission of pretrial motions
Division IV: Pleadings and Motions · Last amended February 15, 2002 · Last verified July 15, 2026
In one sentenceRule 1.435 requires every judicial district to set a regular monthly motion day in each county, and treats any pretrial motion on file for 14 days or more as automatically submitted on that day unless a hearing has been set or another submission time has been fixed.
Full Text of Rule 1.435
(2) The court may hear and rule on any motion prior to motion day so as not to delay completing the issues or trial of the case.
(3) The court may require counsel to be apprised, in any manner it directs, of the time and place at which it will hear or act on any motion, application or other matter other than at the regular motion day. This subrule shall be applied to expedite, but not delay, hearings and submissions.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 1.435(1) requires the chief judge of each judicial district to order regular motion days each month in every county. Once a pretrial motion has been on file for 14 days or more, it's deemed submitted on the next motion day, unless a hearing has already been scheduled or a different time for submission has been set by rule, statute, or a court order entered for good cause. A party who has been served with original notice or has appeared in the case is charged with knowing the regular motion day — no separate notice of that recurring date is required.
The rule also gives the court flexibility on both ends. It can hear and rule on a motion before the scheduled motion day so the case isn't held up waiting for the calendar to come around. And it can require counsel to be notified, in whatever manner it directs, of the time and place for hearing a motion outside the regular motion day — but Rule 1.435(3) limits that flexibility to expediting proceedings, not delaying them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a ‘motion day’ in Iowa civil practice?
A regularly scheduled day, held each month in every county under an order from the chief judge of the judicial district, on which pending motions are deemed submitted and may be heard.
Do I need to be notified separately that my motion will be considered on the regular motion day?
No. A party who has been served with original notice or has appeared in the case is expected to take notice of the regular motion day on its own.
What happens if my motion has been on file for two weeks without a hearing being set?
Once a pretrial motion has been on file for 14 days or more, it's deemed submitted on the next motion day, unless a hearing has been scheduled or another submission time has been fixed by rule, statute, or court order.
Can the court rule on my motion before the scheduled motion day?
Yes. Rule 1.435(2) allows the court to hear and rule on a motion before motion day so it doesn't delay completing the issues or the trial of the case.
Can the court schedule a special hearing outside the regular motion day?
Yes, and it can direct how counsel is notified of that hearing, but Rule 1.435(3) limits this to expediting hearings and submissions, not delaying them.
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
Also known as: iowa motion day rulepretrial motion deemed submitted iowaiowa 14 day motion submissionrule 1.435 iowa civil procedure