Chief Judge, James Q. Blomgren: District 8A

Chief Judge Blomgren, Oskaloosa, was appointed to the district court bench in 1998 and named as chief judge in 2001. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and attended the University of Iowa where he received his bachelor's degree in 1969. Judge Blomgren earned his law degree from the University of Virginia in 1972. After graduation, he was an attorney for the United States Department of Agriculture for two years and then in private practice from 1973 until 1998. Judge Blomgren serves on the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules of Civil Procedure, and is a member of the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers, the American Board of Trial Advocates, and the Iowa Defense Council Association.

District Court Judge, Mary Ann Brown: District 8B

Judge Brown, Burlington, was appointed to the bench in September 2001. She received her bachelor's degree from Drake University in 1981 and her law degree from the Drake University School of Law in 1984. Judge Brown worked as a prosecutor for the Des Moines County Attorney's Office from 1985 to 1990. More recently she has been in private practice with Barren, Schulte, Hahn, Swanson & Brown. Brown is a member of the Iowa Board of Examiners of Shorthand Reporters (Chair). In 2000 she received a Bar Association Community Service award.

District Court Judge, Cynthia Danielson: District 8B

Judge Danielson, Mount Pleasant, was appointed to the bench in 1999. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa in 1972, and her law degree in 1976. Judge Danielson worked in private practice from 1976 until her appointment in 1999. In that time she served many positions including, Henry County Judicial Magistrate (1981 - 1985), Henry County Judicial Hospital Referee (1985 - 1997), and City Attorney for the cities of Mt. Pleasant, New London, and Olds. Judge Danielson has served on the Supreme Court Grievance Commission, the Supreme Court Task Force on Involuntary Hospitalization, and the Supreme Court Child Support Guidelines Commission. Iowa delegate to the ABA's National Conference of State Trial Judges (2005 - 2008).  She is a member of the American Bar Association, the Iowa State Bar Association, the Iowa Judges Association and the National Association of Women Judges. Judge Danielson is married and has one daughter.

District Court Judge, Lucy J. Gamon: District 8A

Judge Gamon, Sigourney, was appointed to the bench in 1993. She was born in Washington, Iowa, and attended Cornell College. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1979, she earned her law degree from the University of Iowa in 1983, graduating with high distinction. She worked for several law firms from 1983 until 1993 as well as serving as a Bremer County magistrate for two years.  Judge Gamon was appointed as District Associate Judge in 1993 and as District Judge in 2010.  Judge Gamon is a member of the Iowa Judges Association, the Iowa State Bar and Keokuk County Bar Associations.  She has served as a member of the Iowa Court Improvement Project, is on the faculty of the school for new judges and is currently a member of the Eighth Judicial District Public Outreach Committee.  She is married and has three children.

District Court Judge, Myron Gookin: District 8A

Judge Gookin, Fairfield, was appointed to the bench in August of 2011. Judge Gookin, a native of Fairfield, Iowa, received his bachelor's degree with distinction from Iowa State University in 1980 and his Juris Doctorate Degree from The Law School at Drake University in 1983 with Honors.  Law school honors include Order of Coif; Order of Barristers; Midwest & National Moot Court teams with individual honors; Moot Court Board; Rodney L. Hudson Senior Advocacy Award; Drake Law Review and multiple American Jurisprudence Awards.  While in law school Judge Gookin clerked for Davis, Hockenberg, Wine, Brown and Koehn in Des Moines and Foss & Kuiken in Fairfield.  Judge Gookin was in private practice with Foss, Kuiken, Gookin & Cochran P.C. in Fairfield, Iowa from July 1983 - September 2011.  He is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association; Jefferson County Bar Association; Iowa Supreme Court Commission on Continuing Legal Education; 8A Judicial District Magistrate Nominating Commission and past member of Iowa Supreme Court Limited Jurisdiction Task Force.  He is married and has three children.   

District Court Judge, John G. Linn: District 8B

Judge Linn, Burlington, was appointed to the bench in 1994. He was born in Hampton, Iowa, and was educated at the University of Iowa. He received his undergraduate degree in 1973 and his law degree in 1976. He then spent three years in private practice and 15 years as a public defender in Burlington, Iowa. Judge Linn is a member of the Iowa Bar Association; Iowa Judges Association; Board of Directors of Iowa Judges Association (2006 - 2010); Judicial Education Committee and Criminal Law Committee.

District Court Judge, Michael J. Schilling:  District 8B

Judge Schilling, Burlington, was appointed to the bench in 2006. He received his undergraduate degree in 1973 from the University of Iowa with honors and his law degree with distinction in 1976, also from the University of Iowa. From 1976 - 1978 he worked as a staff attorney with Inter Tribal Legal Services in Winnebago, NE; 1978 - 1980 he was Assistant Public Defender for the 8B Judicial District, State of Iowa; Judge Schilling was engaged in a civil and criminal trial practice for 30 years: from 1980 - 1990 with the Ford Law Offices; 1990 - 2000 with Cahill, Dieterich and Schilling Law Office; and 2000 - 2006 with the Cahill and Schilling Law Offices. Judge Schilling is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association, Nebraska State Bar Association, Des Moines County Bar Association, LSCI Volunteer Lawyers Project, American Trial Lawyers Association and the Iowa Trial Lawyers Association.  He is married and has three children.    

District Court Judge, Annette J. Scieszinski: District 8A

Judge Scieszinski, Albia, was appointed to the bench in 1996. She was born in Muscatine, Iowa, and received her bachelor's degree from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1977. In 1980 she graduated with her law degree from the University of Iowa. In addition to 15 years in private practice, Judge Scieszinski served as Monroe County attorney for eight years. She was appointed to the State Tax Review Board and elected President of the Iowa State Bar Foundation. Over the years she has been active on several Supreme Court Commissions and Committees, and currently serves on the Court's Advisory Committee on Rules of Civil Procedure. In 1999 she represented Iowa Judges at the National Conference on Public Trust and Confidence in the Courts, and is an Iowa delegate to the National Conference of State Trial Judges, and was selected to represent District 6 (Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and South Dakota) on the Conference Executive Committee.  She remains active in the Iowa State Bar Association and co-chaired the Bench-Bar Conference Committee through the 1998, 2000, and 2002 conferences. Presently she is serving on the Board of Directors for the ISBA Public Service Project (formerly the Volunteer Lawyers Project). Judge Scieszinski is a past President of the Iowa Judges Association. She is on the faculty of the New Judge School, and is a frequent presenter of continuing education programs for judges and lawyers. She is married with four children, a son-in-law, and two grandchildren.

District Court Judge, Daniel P. Wilson: District 8A

Judge Wilson, Centerville, was appointed to the bench in 1995. Born in Pensacola, Florida, he attended Indian Hills Community College, where he earned an associated degree, and the University of Iowa, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1974. He then went to Drake University School of Law. He had various clerkships during school and graduated in 1976. In addition to 18 years in private practice, Judge Wilson served as Iowa assistant attorney general. Judge Wilson belongs to the Appanoose County and Iowa State Bar Associations. He serves on the Courts and Community Committee and Judicial Ethics Committee of the Iowa Judges' Association. He received the IHCC Foundation's Outstanding Alumnus Award in 1997. He is married with five children.

District Court Judge, John M. Wright: District 8B

Judge Wright grew up in Fort Madison where he graduated in 1982.  He attended the University of Iowa earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1986.  Judge Wright received his Juris Doctorate degree from The Law School at Drake University in 1990 and entered private practice in Fort Madison.  He has worked for the Executive Office of the United States Trustee and as an assistant Lee County Attorney.  Judge Wright and his wife, Christine, live in Fort Madison with their four children.

District Court Judge, Joel D. Yates: District 8A

Judge Yates, Sigourney, was appointed to the bench in December 2007. He received his bachelor's degree from Mt. Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, IA in 1986 and his law degree from the Drake University School of Law in 1994. Judge Yates spent 12 years in private practice with Clements Law Firm in Oskaloosa, IA.  He is a member of the Iowa Judges Association and the Keokuk County Bar Association.   He is married with three children.  

District Associate Judge, Crystal Cronk: 8A 

Judge Cronk, Sigourney, was appointed to the bench in November 2010.  She attended Northeast Missouri State University and received her Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1996 from the University of Missouri - Columbia.  She was in private practice from 1996 to 2010, serving as Assistant Van Buren County Attorney from 1996 to 1999 and as County Attorney from 1999 to 2006; and was appointed as Van Buren County Judicial Magistrate from 2006 to 2010.  She is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association, Iowa Judges Association, the District 8 Public Outreach Committee and was a prior commission member of the Grievance Commission of the Supreme Court of Iowa and served as a member of the Committee to study the ABA Model Code of Judicial Conduct. 

District Associate Judge, Kirk A. Daily: District 8A

Judge Daily, Ottumwa, was appointed to the bench in 1998. He received his bachelor's degree from University of Iowa in 1981. In 1984 Judge Daily graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law. He was a judicial magistrate from 1984-1986 for Wapello county. He went into private practice until his appointment. Judge Daily is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association and the Iowa Judges Association.

District Associate Judge, Emily Dean: District 8B

Judge Dean, Ft. Madison, was appointed to the bench in 2006.  She attended the University of Northern Iowa and received her undergraduate degree in 1996 and received her Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1999 from the University of Tulsa.  Judge Dean was a partner at Saunders, Humphrey, Johnson and Dean from 1999 to 2006.  She is member of the Iowa Bar Association and is married with two sons.

District Associate Judge, Randy DeGeest: District 8A

Judge DeGeest, Oskaloosa, was appointed to the bench in 2009. He graduated from Drake University with a BA in Political Science in 1974 and received his law degree from Drake in 1978.  He has been in private practice in Oskaloosa since 1979.  Judge DeGeest served as a part-time magistrate for Mahaska County from 1979 to 1986, Judicial Hospitalization Referee from 1979 - 1990 and city attorney from 1994 to 2006.  He also serves as the attorney for the Oskaloosa Community School District and the Montezuma Community School District.  He has had an extensive mediation practice.  He is a member of the Mahaska County Bar Association, Iowa State Bar Association, Iowa Association of School Board Attorneys, Mediation Services of Eastern Iowa and Iowa Association of Mediators.

District Associate Judge, Michael G. Dieterich: District 8B

Judge Dieterich, Burlington, was appointed to the bench in June of 2000. He received his undergraduate degree in 1973 from the University of Iowa and his law degree in 1976 also from the University of Iowa. After graduation, he practiced law in Burlington. Judge Dieterich is a member of the Des Moines County and Iowa Bar Associations. He is married and has two children.

District Associate Judge, Mark Kruse: District 8B

Judge Kruse, Burlington, was appointed to the bench in February of 1997. He was born in Little Rock, Iowa, and attended Morningside College, where he received his bachelor's degree in 1980. He then went to the University of Iowa for law school and graduated in 1983. Judge Kruse served as Appanoose County attorney and assistant Wapello County attorney. He also worked with Child Support Recovery from 1984 to 1987.  He is a member of the Iowa Judges Association and the Iowa State Bar Association.  Judge Kruse is married and has one child.

District Associate Judge, Gary R. Noneman: District 8B

Judge Noneman was appointed to the bench in 1987. He received his bachelor's degree from Iowa State University in 1977 and his law degree from the University of Iowa in 1980. After graduation, he went into private practice for two years, then served as assistant Lee County public defender until 1987. Judge Noneman is a member of the Iowa State and American Bar Association, as well as the Iowa Judges Association. He attained the honor of Order of the Coif and was awarded the United States Department of Justice Crime Victims Service Certificate.

Associate Juvenile Judge, William S. Owens: District 8A

Judge Owens, Ottumwa, was appointed to the bench in 1999. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas in 1981 and his law degree from Drake University Law School in 1984. He served as Assistant Monroe County Attorney from 1984-1989 and Monroe County Attorney from 1990-1998. He was in private practice until his appointment. Judge Owens served as Co-chair on the Oversight Committee, Iowa Supreme Court Children's Justice; member, State Council; Iowa Supreme Court Children's Justice; recipient of 2008 Court Innovation Award for Initiating a Family Drug Court in Wapello County, recipient of 2007 Outstanding Contributor to Recovery Award from Harold Hughes Hall Association and is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association and the Iowa Judges Association.

Senior Judge, William L. Dowell: District 8B

Judge Dowell, West Burlington, was appointed to the bench in 1990. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, he received his undergraduate degree from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1970. He then went to Drake University School of Law and earned his degree in 1975.

Senior Judge, R. David Fahey: District 8B 

Judge Fahey, Fort Madison, was appointed to the bench in 1983. Born in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, he went to the University of Notre Dame. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1972 and his law degree in 1975. He worked as assistant Lee County attorney and served as a faculty advisor at the National Judicial College before being appointed to the associate district judicial bench in 1981. He is married and has two children.

Senior Judge, Joel Kamp: District 8B

Judge Kamp was appointed to the bench in 1983. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa and his law degree from the University of Mississippi.

Senior Judge, E. Richard Meadows, Jr.: District 8A

Judge Meadows, Ottumwa, was appointed to the bench in 1998. Born in Williamsburg, Virginia, he served in the United States Coast Guard from 1968 to 1972; 1976 - 1979 School Psychologist with AEA 15; 1979 - 1982 production control and computer programmer with John Deere Ottumwa Works; He earned his bachelor's degree from James Madison University in 1974 as well as his M.Ed. and certification in school of psychology in 1976. He earned his law degree from Drake University in 1985.  After law school he worked as assistant county attorney for Wapello County and was in private practice with a firm. He was appointed to be a district associate judge in 1989 and as a District Court Judge in 1998. Judge Meadows is a member of the Wapello County, District 8A and Iowa State Bar Associations; member of and past district representative to the Iowa Judges Association. He is married and has two children.  

Senior Judge, Dan F. Morrison: District 8A

Judge Morrison, Sigourney, was appointed to the bench in 1983. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Northern Iowa in 1970 and his law degree from Drake University in 1975. In 1992 he earned his master's degree. Judge Morrison worked at a law firm in Sigourney, Iowa, before his appointment.

Magistrate Scott Campbell

Magistrate Scott Campbell, Oskaloosa, was appointed to serve Mahaska County in 1996. He earned his undergraduate degree from New York University in 1974 and his law degree from the University of Iowa in 1976. He is a practicing attorney in Oskaloosa and a member of the Iowa State Bar Association, Iowa Trial Lawyers Association, American Trial Lawyers Association, and the Iowa Association of Magistrate Judges. Campbell is married.

Magistrate Julie DeVries

Magistrate Julie DeVries was appointed to serve Appanoose County in 2005. She graduated from Truman State University in 1994 and earned her law degree from Drake University in 2004. She is a member of the bar association and is in private practice.

Magistrate Samuel K. Erhardt

Magistrate Samuel K. Erhardt, Ottumwa, was appointed to serve Wapello County in 1983. He attended the University of Iowa, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1973 and his law degree in 1976. He has practiced law with a private firm as well as served as assistant Wapello County attorney. Erhardt is a member of the Wapello County and Iowa State Bar Associations and is married with two children.

Magistrate Denise Gonyea 

Magistrate Denise Gonyea, Grinnell, was appointed to serve Poweshiek County in 2009.  She attended Arizona State University where she earned her bachelor's degree in 1995 and her law degree in 1999.  She is a practicing attorney at McKelvie Law Office in Grinnell, Iowa and a member of the Iowa Bar Association, Arizona Bar Association, Hispanic National Bar Association, Poweshiek County Bar Association and the Iowa Association of Magistrate Judges.  

Magistrate Roger A. Huddle

Magistrate Roger A. Huddle, Wapello, was appointed to serve Louisa County starting in August 2001. He received his undergraduate degree from Drake University in 1975, and his law degree also from Drake University in 1978. Huddle has formerly served as Louisa County Attorney and was also in private practice with Weaver & Huddle Law Office. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Iowa State Bar Association and the Louisa County Bar Association as well as the Iowa Trial Lawyers Association and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Huddle is married and has four children.

Magistrate Lloyd E. Keith

Magistrate Lloyd E. Keith, Ottumwa, was appointed to serve Wapello County starting in February 1999. He received his undergraduate degree from Drake University in 1977, and his law degree from Drake University School of Law in 1980. Keith has been in private practice since 1980. He currently is with Keith Law Firm, P.C. Keith is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association, the Wapello County Bar Association (past President), and the Iowa Defense Council. He is married and has four children.

Magistrate Daniel P. Kitchen

Magistrate Daniel P. Kitchen, Washington, was appointed in September 2003. He received his law degree with distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law in December 1994. Kitchen was in private practice in Muscatine and Davenport before moving to Washington in 1997. Kitchen became a partner in the firm of Tindal and Kitchen in 2000. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Iowa State Bar Association and the Washington County Bar Association. Magistrate Kitchen lives with his family in Washington, Iowa.

Magistrate Timothy B. Liechty 

Magistrate Timothy B. Liechty was appointed to serve Henry County in August, 2005.  He attended University of Northern Iowa where he received his undergraduate degree in 1985 and his law degree in 2002. 

Magistrate John B. Martin  

Magistrate John B. Martin, Bloomfield, was appointed to serve Davis County in 2006. Magistrate Martin attended the University of Missouri (Columbia), he earned his bachelor's degree in 1970 and received his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1973 from the University of Iowa, College of Law. Magistrate Martin held the position of Davis County Attorney from 1974 - 1978 and was the Bloomfield City Attorney for over twenty years.  Magistrate Martin is a member of the Davis County Bar Association, Iowa Bar Association and the American Bar Association.  Magistrate Martin is married and resides in Bloomfield, Iowa where he has a private law practice. 

Magistrate Kevin S. Maughan

Magistrate Kevin S. Maughan, Albia, was appointed to serve Monroe County in 1997. He graduated from Grand View College with his bachelor's degree in 1984 and earned his law degree from Drake University in 1987. He has been in the general practice of law since 1988 and is a member of the Monroe County, Iowa State, and American Bar Associations.

Magistrate Michael C. Vance

Magistrate Michael C. Vance, Westwood, was appointed to serve Henry County in 1997. As a graduate of the University of Iowa, he earned his bachelor's degree in 1973 and his law degree in 1976. He has served as assistant county attorney and is currently in private practice. Vance is a member of the Henry County, Iowa State, and American Bar Associations. He serves on the Board of Governors of the ISBA and is married.

Magistrate Benny B. Waggoner

Magistrate Benny B. Waggoner, Fairfield, was appointed in 2002 to serve Jefferson County. He attended Vanderbilt University where he received his undergraduate degree in 1967 and his law degree in 1970. He has been in private practice in Fairfield since 1983.

Magistrate Steven J. Westercamp

Magistrate Steven J. Westercamp, Farmington, was appointed to serve Van Buren County in 2010. He earned his bachelor's degree with distinction from Iowa State University in 1989 and received his law degree from Drake Law School with honors and Order of the Coif in 1995. He is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association and has been in private practice in Iowa since 1995 and in his hometown of Farmington since 1997.  He is married with five children.