Description
The John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program provides direct loan‑repayment assistance to Iowa‑licensed prosecutors and public defenders (including eligible federal defenders and supervisors) who commit to remain in their public‑service positions for a minimum three‑year period. The program distributes approximately $140,000 in total funding, with a per‑beneficiary lifetime cap of $60,000 (no more than $10,000 per calendar year). Applicants must be full‑time employees, have eligible federal student loans, and must not be in default or hold an elected prosecutor/public‑defender office. Applications are submitted through the Iowa Grants portal by June 30, 2026.
• Eligible participants: full‑time Iowa prosecutors, public defenders, federal defender attorneys, and supervisors/educators.
• Funding: up to $60,000 per beneficiary; total program allocation ≈ $140,000.
• Service obligation: 36 months continuous employment (July 1 2026 – June 30 2029).
• Application requirements: registration on www.iowagrants.gov, loan statements, signed service agreements, release of information, and recent tax return.
• Selection: scored by “Least Ability to Repay” formula; awards are evenly distributed across Iowa’s four congressional districts and split equally between prosecutors and defenders.