District 4

  

District Court Judge Richard H. Davidson: District 4 

Judge Davidson, Clarinda, was appointed to the bench in 2009.  He attended Drake University where he earned a Bachelors of Arts Degree in 1981 and a Juris Doctorate in 1984.  He then moved to Washington D.C. where he served as a Trial Attorney for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission until May 1986.  In June of 1986, he joined the law firm Wright and Talisman.  In 1991, he returned to Clarinda and practiced law with Bailey and Davidson, later known as Davidson Law Firm.  In addition to his private practice Judge Davidson served as Page County Attorney from 2001 until his appointment to the bench.   He is a member of the Iowa State Bar and Iowa Judges Associations.  He is married and has three children.     

District Court Judge James S. Heckerman: District 4

Judge Heckerman, Council Bluffs, was appointed to the bench in 1996. He was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and earned his bachelor's degree from Iowa State University in 1972. In 1974 he graduated with his law degree from Creighton University. He worked in private practice, as assistant Pottawattamie County attorney, and Pottawattamie County public defender before being appointed to the district associate bench in 1984. Judge Heckerman is a member of the Iowa Judges' Association.

District Court Judge Kathleen A. Kilnoski: District 4
Judge Kilnoski, Council Bluffs, was appointed as District Court Judge January 9, 2009 and served as District Associate Judge since 1996. She was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and attended Grinnell College. After graduating with her bachelor's degree in 1981, she went on to earn her law degree from University of Iowa in 1985. She worked as assistant city attorney for Council Bluffs until her appointment to the bench.  She is a member of the Iowa Judges Association, the Iowa Bar Association, Juvenile Court Committee of the Iowa Judges Association, committee leader and member of several work groups of the Supreme Court's Court Improvement Project, and member and past officer of the Iowa Organization of Women Attorneys.

Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Larson: District 4

Chief Judge Larson, Harlan, was appointed to the bench in 2003 and became Chief Judge due to the retirement of Judge Charles L. Smith III.  He earned his law degree from the University of Iowa in 1985. He has been in private practice as well as serving as Shelby County attorney.

District Court Judge Timothy O'Grady: District 4

Judge O'Grady, Council Bluffs, was appointed to the bench in 1995. He attended Creighton University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1977 and his law degree in 1980. He then went into private practice as well as serving as assistant Pottawattamie County attorney for five years.  He is a member of the Iowa Bar and Iowa Judge's Associations.

District Court Judge James Richardson: District 4

Judge Richardson, Audubon, was appointed to the bench in 1986. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Northern Iowa in 1972 and his law degree from the University of Iowa in 1975.  Judge Richardson was in private practice from 1975 to his appointment to the bench.  He also served as city attorney for Audubon (1975-1978), Bayard (1982-1986), and Coon Rapids (1980-1986).  He is president of the Iowa Judge's Association for 2005-2006 and is involved with the Iowa State Bar Association as Bench Bar Co-Chair for 2003-2006.  He is past president of the Southwest Iowa Bar Association.  He was Fourth Judicial District Drug Court judge from 2003 to 2005.  Judge Richardson is married and has three children. 

District Court Judge Greg W. Steensland: District 4 

Judge Steensland, Council Bluffs, was appointed to the bench October 7, 2005.  He earned his bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Iowa in 1973 and his law degree from Drake University in 1976.  He was in private practice for fifteen years and served in the public defender's office for fourteen years.  Judge Steensland is a member of the Iowa State and Pottawattamie County Bar Associations.  He was actively involved in establishing a Drug Court in Pottawattamie County.  He is married and has two grown children. 

Senior Judge Gordon C. Abel: District 4

Judge Abel, Council Bluffs, has become Senior Judge as of January 1, 2009 retiring as District Court Judge December 31, 2008.  He was appointed to the bench in 1996 after serving as a district associate judge since 1979. He earned his bachelor's degree from Iowa State University and his law degree from the University of Iowa.

Senior Judge J. C. Irvin: District 4

Judge Irvin, Shenandoah, has become Senior Judge as of August 28, 2009 retiring as District Court Judge after 28 years of service.  He was appointed to the bench in 1980. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa in 1964, and his law degree from the University of Kansas in 1967. Judge Irvin practiced law in Des Moines and Shenandoah and served as Page County attorney prior to his appointment to the bench.  He is a member of the Iowa State and the American Bar Associations.  He is a past president of the Iowa Judges Association.

Senior Judge Charles L. Smith, III: District 4

Judge Smith, Council Bluffs, has become Senior Judge as of January 15, 2010.  Judge Smith is currently on a one year leave of absence.  He was appointed to the bench in 1990. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, he went on to earn his law degree from Creighton University in 1970. He then spent 19 years in private practice. Judge Smith served as Harrison County attorney from 1972 to 1973. He is a member of the Iowa Judicial Council and the Iowa Court Technology Committee. He is married and has three children.

District Associate Judge Gary Anderson: District 4
Judge Anderson, Council Bluffs, was appointed to the bench in 1987. He received his undergraduate education from the University of Iowa and his law education from Creighton University.

District Associate Judge Susan Christensen: District 4
Judge Christensen, was appointed to the bench August 3, 2007.  She graduated from Judson College in 1988 and received her Juris Doctorate from Creighton in 1991.  Susan has been in private practice in Harlan with Larson, Childs, Hall and Christensen from 1991 to 2003 and the Law Offices of Susan Larson Christensen from 2003 to present.  Her practice focused on Family law.  She also served as Assistant County Attorney in Shelby County from 1991 to present, Harrison County from 1996 to 2007 and Crawford County in 2007.

District Associate Judge Mark J. Eveloff: District 4

Judge Eveloff, Council Bluffs, was appointed to the bench in January of 1996. Born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, he received his undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa in 1971. In 1974 Judge Eveloff earned his law degree from Creighton University. He has served as assistant city attorney for Des Moines, assistant county attorney for Polk and practiced law at a firm from 1983 to 1995. Judge Eveloff is a member of the Iowa Judges Association, the District Associate Judges Committee and the Juvenile Judges Association.  He is married and has two children.

District Associate Judge Charles D. Fagan: District 4

Judge Fagan, Council Bluffs, was appointed to the bench January 30, 2009.  He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1988 and received his Juris Doctorate from Creighton University in 1995.  Judge Fagan served the State of Iowa Public Defender's Office from 1996 to 2009.  He serves on the Community Involvement Committee, the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Criminal Procedure and is a member of the Iowa Bar Association.

Magistrate James D. Branan

Magistrate James D. Branan was appointed to serve Montgomery County July 1, 1985.  He earned his BA in political science from the University of Colorado in 1972; a MPA from the University of Oklahoma in 1974 and a BS in secondary education at NW Missouri State University in 1985.  He served in the United States Army from 1961 - 1982.  He is a member of the Iowa Association of Judges of Limited Jurisdiction.  He is married and has three children.

Magistrate William T. Early

Magistrate William T. Early, was appointed to serve Shelby County in 1985. He earned his degree in economics in 1980 and his law degree in 1983 from the University of Iowa. He served as assistant Shelby County attorney and is a member of the Shelby County and Iowa State Bar Associations, and the Iowa Magistrate's Association.  He is married and has four children.

  

Magistrate Gary R. Englin

Magistrate Gary R. Englin, Audubon, was appointed to serve Audubon County in 1996. He is self employed in the financial services field. Englin is married and has three children.

Magistrate Steven A. Heckenbach

Magistrate Steven A. Heckenbach, Atlantic, was appointed to serve Cass County in 1991. He worked for fourteen years as an Iowa State Trooper. Heckenbach has two children.

Magistrate John P. Heithoff

Magistrate John P. Heithoff, Council Bluffs, was appointed to serve Pottawattamie County August 1, 2009.  He is currently self-employed in general practice of law since 1977.  Heithoff was previously employed as Assistant County Attorney for Pottawattamie County from January 1987 to May of 1989.  He was also Assistant City Attorney, Council Bluffs from July 1982 to July 1984.  Magistrate Heithoff received his Bachelor of Science from Iowa State University in 1974 and Juris Doctor from Creighton University in 1977.  He is a member of the Pottawattamie County Bar Association, Southwest Iowa Bar Association, and the Southwest Iowa Lawyer League.

Magistrate Dennis L. James

Magistrate Dennis L. James was appointed to serve Fremont County August 1, 2005.  His previous professional experience was as a self-employed owner of James Grocery which was in business for twenty five years.  He is also an EMT firefighter since 1973.  He is married and has three children and one grandson.

Magistrate Ronald L. Knight

Magistrate Ronald L. Knight was appointed August 1, 2009 to serve Page County.  His previous professional experience consists of thirty years Business Management as proprietor of a restaurant in Red Oak, Iowa.  Magistrate Knight is President of the local United Fund Organization and a member of the Elk's.  He is married and has two children.

Magistrate C. Lyle Mayberry, Jr.

Magistrate C. Lyle Mayberry, Jr., Glenwood, was appointed to serve Mills County in 1997. He spent 10 years with the Iowa National Guard and has worked as a professional land surveyor. Mayberry was also mayor of Glenwood and served on the Glenwood City Council. He was declared Citizen of the Year for 1996. Married for 30 years, he and his wife have three children.

Magistrate Clarence B. Meldrum, Jr.

Magistrate Clarence B. Meldrum, Jr., Council Bluffs, was appointed to serve Pottawattamie County in 1993. He served in the United States Army. Meldrum attended Creighton University and Buena Vista College for his undergraduate education and earned his law degree from Creighton in 1972. He has been in private practice since 1972 and served as the first ADA Coordinator for the 4th Judicial District. He is a member of the Pottawattamie County and Iowa State Bar Associations and serves on various committees to each organization. He belongs to the Federal Bar Association and is the current president of the Iowa Association of Magistrate Judges. He received the ISBA/VLP Award for Significant Contribution to the Volunteer Lawyer Project and Pro Bono Legal Work. Meldrum is married and has one daughter.

Magistrate Brian S. Mensen 

Magistrate Brian S. Mensen was appointed to serve Montgomery County in March 2006.  Magistrate Mensen received his BA in accounting at the University of Northern Iowa in 1999.  In 2002, he received his JD from Drake University Law School.  Mensen is a member of the American and Iowa State Bar Associations and is President of the Montgomery County Bar Association. 

Magistrate James J. Nye

Magistrate James J. Nye was appointed to serve Page County in 1983.  He received his bachelor's degree from Hawaii Pacific University June of 1982.  He served in the United States Navy for twenty three years.  He is a member of American Legion Post # 88 - Colorguard, Optimists, Elk's, Masonic Lodge, and the VFW.  He is married and has five grown children.

Magistrate G. Elizabeth Otte

Magistrate G. Elizabeth Otte, Glenwood, was appointed to serve Mills County in 1991. She went to Dunchesne College and earned her bachelor's degree in 1965. In 1970, she earned her law degree from Creighton University. She was in private practice for the Legal Aid Society of Des Moines and Legal Aid Society in Council Bluffs. Otte is a member of the Southwest Iowa Domestic Coalition, Mills County Jail Steering Committee, Mills County, Pottawattamie County and Iowa State Bar Associations. She also serves on the bar's Family Law Division and provides pro bono representation to victims of domestic violence through the Pottawattamie County Bar. She received the Reginald Heber Smith Fellowship and was the recipient of the Lawyer of the Year Award from Legal Services Corporation of Iowa. Otte is married and has two step-daughters and five grandchildren.

Magistrate Jesse A. Render

Magistrate Jesse A. Render, Missouri Valley, was appointed to serve Harrison County in 2005. He received his undergraduate degree from Iowa State in 1996 and his law degree from Creighton in 2004. Render served as a law clerk in District 4 before going into private practice. He is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association. Magistrate Stephen L. Rosman Magistrate Stephen L. Rosman, Council Bluffs, was appointed to serve Pottawattamie County June 16, 2007.  He received his undergraduate degree from Creighton University in 1975 and his law degree also from Creighton in 1979.  He has been in private practice for 27 years, 15 of those years in Pottawattamie County.  Stephen is a member of the Iowa Bar Association, Pottawattamie County Bar and in 1984 was Iowa Legal Services Volunteer Services Lawyer of the Year.  He is married. Magistrate J.C. Van Ginkel Magistrate J.C. Van Ginkel, Atlantic, was appointed to serve Cass County in 2001. He attended Drake University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1976 and his law degree in 1979. He is married with two children.

Magistrate Jack J. White

Magistrate Jack J. White, Missouri Valley, was appointed to serve Harrison County in 1997. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 1977 and his law degree from Creighton University in 1980. White has been a practicing private attorney for 18 years and is a member of the Criminal Law Section of the Iowa State Bar Association. He is married and has two children.