O’Brien County, Iowa — The O’Brien County Magistrate Nominating Commission has appointed a Lake Park attorney as part-time Magistrate in O’Brien County.
Magistrate Appointee Jon Michael Martin received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and Sociology from Iowa State University in 1976, and studied law at the University of Nebraska from 1979 to 1982 when he earned his law degree.
Since that time he has worked in private practice in the Iowa Great Lakes Area, as well as serving from 1983 to 1987 as part-time Assistant Dickinson County Attorney. In 1987 Martin became the full-time County Attorney for Dickinson County, serving in that post until 1994. He became County Attorney again in 2012, serving until 2019. He now operates a law office in Lake Park. In addition, Martin served as an Alternate District Associate Judge for District 3A from 1998 until the position was eliminated in 2001. Martin also served as a part-time Legal Research and Legal Writing Instructor at Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville from 2014 to 2017.
Magistrates serve part time and have jurisdiction over simple misdemeanors, including scheduled violations, county and municipal infractions, and small claims cases. Magistrates have authority to issue search warrants, conduct preliminary hearings, and hear certain involuntary hospitalization and juvenile matters. Magistrates may be assigned by the Chief Judge to work in counties within the District other than the county appointed.
Martin’s term as O’Brien County Magistrate is set to begin August 1st of this year.
