Iowa Code § 66.14: Appointment of judge.

It shall be the duty of the chief justice of the supreme court, upon the filing of said copy and application, or in the chief justice’s absence or inability to act, any justice thereof, to forthwith issue a written commission directing a district judge outside of such district to proceed to the county in which the complaint was filed, and hear the same. The clerk of the supreme court shall transmit a certified copy of said order to the clerk of the district court where the cause is pending.