District 3

Chief Judge, Duane E. Hoffmeyer: District 3B

Judge Hoffmeyer, Sioux City, was appointed to the bench in January 2001 and appointed to serve as chief judge January 1, 2008. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Northern Iowa in 1979 and his law degree from Creighton Law School in 1982. Judge Hoffmeyer was engaged in private practice in Sioux City since his graduation. Hoffmeyer is a member of the Iowa Judges Association, the Iowa Bar Association and the Woodbury County Bar Association. He is married with two children.

District Court Judge, John D. Ackerman: District 3B

Judge Ackerman has been a lifelong resident of Woodbury County, Iowa. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Morningside College in Sioux City with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1979. Subsequently, he graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1982 with High Distinction. Judge Ackerman was in private practice with the Heidman Law Firm in Sioux City, Iowa, from 1982 until he was appointed to the bench in September 1997. Judge Ackerman participated in the creation of the Woodbury County Drug Court in 1999 and continues to be involved in that court and serves as the presiding district court judge. Judge Ackerman has served on the Board of Directors for the Siouxland Community Soup Kitchen since its inception in 1987. Judge Ackerman is a member of the Iowa State and Woodbury County Bar Associations.

District Court Judge, Steven J. Andreasen: District 3B

Judge Andreasen was appointed as a district judge in January 2008. He had served as a magistrate in Woodbury County in 2006 and 2007 before his appointment to the bench. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa in 1989 and his law degree from the same institution in 1992. Judge Andreasen was in private practice in Sioux City since 1992. He is a member of the Iowa State and Woodbury County Bar Associations and the Iowa Judges Association. He is married with one child.

District Court Judge, Patrick M. Carr: District 3A

Judge Carr, Spencer, was appointed to the bench in 1995. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa in 1972. In 1975 he graduated from Drake University Law School. He has worked as assistant Clay County attorney and in a private law firm before his appointment. Judge Carr is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association, Iowa Judges Association, Judicial Education Committee, and American Judicature Society. Judge Carr is married and has two children.

District Court Judge, Don E. Courtney: District 3A

Judge Courtney, Algona, was appointed to the bench in May 2001. He received his bachelor's degree from Mankato State in 1972 and his law degree from Hamline University in 1976. Judge Courtney has served as Assistant Tama County Attorney, Assistant Kossuth County Attorney, and most recently as partner at Cassel, McMahon, Courtney & Stowater. Judge Courtney is married and has three children.

District Court Judge, John Duffy: District 3A

Judge Duffy, Storm Lake, was appointed to the bench in 1994. He attended Buena Vista College for his undergraduate education and Drake University for his law education.

District Court Judge, Edward A. Jacobson: District 3B

Judge Jacobson, Ida Grove, was appointed to the bench in October 2001. He received his bachelor's degree from Morningside College in 1971 and his Juris Doctorate from the University of South Dakota in 1974. Judge Jacobson has spent 26 years in private practice, served as Ida County Attorney, and was national trial counsel for major equipment manufacturer/product liability defense for 15 years. Judge Jacobson is a member of the Ida County Bar Association, the Iowa State Bar Association and the South Dakota State Bar Association. He is married with three children.

District Court Judge, David A. Lester: District 3A

Judge Lester, Spirit Lake, was appointed to the bench in September 1998. He received his bachelor's degree from Augustana College in 1978, his doctor of dental surgery from the University Of Iowa College Of Dentistry in 1982 and his law degree from the University of Iowa in 1990. Judge Lester was a practicing dentist from 1982 to 1988 in Estherville. He was a practicing attorney in Estherville from 1991 until appointed to the bench in 1998. He served as Emmet County Judicial Hospitalization Referee from February 1991 and as Assistant City Attorney for Armstrong, Iowa from 1991 until his appointment to the bench. Judge Lester serves as the judicial consultant to the Integrated Services Pathways Program administrative board in his sub-district.

District Court Judge, Jeffrey A. Neary: District 3B

Date of Appointment: 2002

Judge Neary received his bachelor’s degree in German from Westmar College, Le Mars, in 1981 and his law degree from the University of South Dakota in 1987.

Judge Neary served as a part-time magistrate for Plymouth County in the mid 1990s and was an assistant federal public defender in the Northern District of Iowa until his appointment to the bench. He also served as an Assistant Woodbury County Attorney, was in private practice with a Sioux City and a Le Mars law firm, and served with the U.S. Army Reserves as a Captain in the Judge Advocate Corps until his honorable discharge in 1999.

Judge Neary is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association and a past member of the South Dakota Bar Association. He is currently an adjunct professor at Western Iowa Tech Community College teaching reserve deputies through the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy. Judge Neary is currently the presiding judge in Plymouth County, which is a pilot county for EDMS (Electronic Data Managing System). Judge Neary also heads up the Plymouth County Drug Court and works with the members of his local Boy Scout Troop.

District Court Judge, Jeffrey L. Poulson: District 3B

Date took office: Dec. 30, 2010

Judge Poulson, Sioux City, worked in private practice in Sioux City, Iowa from February 1977 to December, 2010. He graduated from the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor of Arts with honors in 1974 and from Drake University Law School in December, 1976. He is a member of the Iowa and Woodbury County Bar Associations. 

District Court Judge, James Scott: District 3B

Judge Scott, Rock Valley, was appointed to the bench in 1994. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of South Dakota in 1974 and his law degree from the same institution in 1976. He worked as an assistant Sioux County attorney, an alternate district associate judge, and in private practice before his appointment. Judge Scott is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association, the Iowa Judges' Association, the Family Law and Courts and Community Committees, and the Supreme Court Advisory Committee for Rules of Civil Procedure. He is married and has two children.

District Court Judge, Mary Sokolovske: District 3B

Judge Sokolovske, Sioux City, was appointed to the bench in 1992. She earned her bachelor's degree from Regis College in Colorado and her law degree from Creighton University.

District Court Judge, Nancy L. Whittenburg: District 3A

Judge Whittenburg, Spencer, was appointed to serve as district court judge in 2004. Prior to her appointment, she served as Clay County magistrate since 1989. She attended Drake University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in 1980 and her law degree in 1986. She had been engaged in the private practice of law since 1988. Whittenburg is a member of the Clay County, Iowa State, and American Bar Associations. She is married and has one child.

District Associate Judge, Donald J. Bormann: District 3A

Judge Bormann, Ruthven, was appointed to the bench in July 2000. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of South Dakota in 1964 and his law degree also from the University of South Dakota in 1966. Judge Bormann served as a clerk to Axel J. Beck, Federal Judge; worked as a legal aid on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in Mission, South Dakota; and was in general private practice in Emmetsburg, Iowa, for 32 years. Judge Bormann is a member of the American Bar Association, the Iowa State Bar Association, and the Palo Alto County Bar Association. He is married and has three children.

District Associate Judge, Charles K. Borth: District 3A

Judge Borth, Spencer, was appointed to the bench October 1, 2009. He served as Assistant Clay County Attorney and was in private practice in Spencer since 1997. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mankato State University in 1992 and his Juris Doctorate from Drake University Law School in 1995. Judge Borth is a member of the Clay County Bar Association and the Iowa State Bar Association.

District Associate Judge, Robert J. Dull: District 3B

Judge Dull, LeMars, was appointed to the bench in 1993. He was born in LeMars, Iowa, and earned his bachelor's degree from Yale University in 1969. Judge Dull then served in the United State Army from 1969 to 1976, spending six of those years with the Judge Advocate General Corps. He earned his law degree from Drake University in 1973. His professional experience includes working as Plymouth County Attorney, General Courts-Martial Prosecutor, legal instructor at the U.S. Army Intelligence Center and in private practice. He is a member of the Iowa Judges Association Legislative Committee. Judge Dull is married, has three daughters and eight grandchildren.

District Associate Judge, Todd Hensley: District 3B

Judge Hensley of Sioux City was appointed to the bench in September 2000. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Morningside College in 1984, his law degree from the University of Iowa in 1988. Judge Hensley previously served as first assistant public defender for Woodbury County. He is a member of the Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) Subcommittee of the Juvenile Justice Advisory Council, the Iowa Judges Association, Woodbury County Bar Association and the Iowa State Bar Association. He is co-chair of the District Associate Judges Committee of the Iowa Judges Association. He is married and has three children. 

District Associate Judge, Timothy T. Jarman: District 3

Judge Jarman was appointed to the bench in 1997. A native of Sioux City, Iowa, he earned his bachelor's degree from Loras College in 1977 and his law degree from the University of Iowa in 1980. He served as assistant Woodbury County attorney, assistant U.S. attorney, and worked in private practice for seven years. Judge Jarman is a member of the Woodbury County and Iowa State Bar Associations.

District Associate Judge, David C. Larson: District 3A

Judge Larson, Spirit Lake,is a resident of Dickinson County and routinely hears cases in Dickinson, O'Brien and Osceola counties and will occasionally preside in the other counties as needed. Judge Larson received his bachelor's degree from Iowa State University and graduated
from Creighton School of Law. He spent 17 years in private practice and served as an alternate district associate judge from 1983-1998 prior to being appointed as a full-time district associate judge in 1998. Judge Larson is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association and the Iowa Judges Association.

District Associate Judge, John C. Nelson

Judge Nelson, Sioux City, was appointed to serve Woodbury County in 1997 as a magistrate. He was appointed district associate judge in 2006.   He attended the University of Iowa, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1987 and his law degree in 1991. He has worked at the Sioux City Legal Department, Woodbury County attorney's office and was in private practice. Nelson has served as a member of the Woodbury County Civil Service Commission. He is married and has two children.

 Associate Juvenile Judge, Mary L. McCollum Timko: District 3

 Date of Appointment: 1988

Judge McCollum Timko earned her bachelor’s degree, with distinction from the University of Iowa in 1979. She received a master’s degree, with honors, from the same institution in 1984 and and law degree from the University of Iowa Law School in 1982.

Judge McCollum Timko served as an assistant county attorney for Johnson County from 1982 to 1988 and has served as an adjunct professor at Buena Vista University since 1993.

Judge McCollum Timko is a member of the Iowa Judges Association and served on the Iowa Supreme Court Court Improvement Project. She is a member of the Child Advocacy Committee, the Parents and Children Together Committee, and the CASA Advisory Board, serving as director until 2008. She is a judge for Cherokee/Ida Family Treatment Court, and the founder and judge of the Buena Vista County Family Drug Court. She serves on the Drug Endangered Children Committee, the Native American Advisory Committee for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Siouxland, the Faith Hope and Charity Board of Directors (until 1995), the Storm Lake Softball Association Board (until 2003) and the “I Will Not Worry” Foundation.

Associate Juvenile Judge, Brian Michaelson: District 3

Judge Michaelson, Le Mars, has served as an associate juvenile judge since 1985. Judge Michaelson graduated Summa Cum Laude from Westmar College in 1975 and obtained a juris doctorate from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1978. Prior to taking the bench Judge Michaelson was in private practice for seven years with the Dull, Murphy, Dull and Michaelson Law Firm in Le Mars and served as an assistant county attorney for Plymouth County from 1978 to 1985. In 1986 he graduated from the National College of Juvenile Justice. Judge Michaelson is a member of the Iowa Judges Association and the National Council of Family and Juvenile Court Judges. He served as President of the Iowa Judges Association from 1995 to 1996. He received the Governor's Award for Certification of Excellence in Foster Care, serves as a board member on the state Child Advocacy Board and the Third Judicial District Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Advisory Committee. Since becoming a judge he has been a trainer/presenter for foster parents, CASAs, child protective investigators, case managers, service providers, tribal representatives/social workers, guardian ad litems, attorneys and judges on local/state/national juvenile justice issues. Judge Michaelson is married and has two children.

Senior Judge, Donavon D. Schaefer: District 3A

Judge Schaefer, Aurelia, was appointed to the bench in 1989. He was born in Sac City, Iowa, and served in the United States Army. In 1975 he received his undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa and in 1979 he earned his law degree from the same institution. He practiced law in Cherokee and Aurelia, Iowa before serving as Cherokee County judicial magistrate. He is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association and the District Associate Judges Committee. He has two sons.

Senior Judge, Patrick C. McCormick: District 3B

Judge McCormick, Sioux City, was appointed to the bench in 1996. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, he received his bachelor's degree from Morningside College in 1964. In 1966 he graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law. He served as Woodbury County attorney before his appointment. In 1995 Judge McCormick served as President to the Woodbury County Bar Association. Judge McCormick is married.

Senior Judge, Frank Nelson: District 3A

Judge Nelson served as a district court judge for 15 years prior to retiring in 2003. Judge Nelson assists the Iowa Court of Appeals and the Third Judicial District as a senior judge.

Senior Judge, Michael S. Walsh: District 3B

Judge Walsh, Sioux City, was appointed to the bench in 1982 and served as chief judge from 2003 through 2007. He was born in Sioux City, Iowa, and served in the Air National Guard from 1962 to 1968. Judge Walsh earned his undergraduate degree from the University of South Dakota in 1965 and his law degree from the same institution in 1968. He went into private practice and served as the city attorney for Sioux City. He is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association, the Iowa Judges Association, and the Woodbury County Bar Association. He is married and has three children.

Senior Judge, Gary Wenell: District 3B

Judge Wenell, Sioux City, was appointed to the bench in 1989. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of South Dakota in 1967 and his law degree from the University of Iowa in 1970. He went into private practice before being appointed to the bench. On March 4, 2010, Judge Wenell retired and was designated as a senior judge.

Magistrate Peter Goldsmith

Magistrate Peter Goldsmith was appointed to serve Crawford County in 2009. He graduated from the University of Iow in 1977 and achieved Magna Cum Laude from the University of Iowa Law School in 1980. Goldsmith worked with Wheatley R. wollesen Law Firm in Washington D. C. and Wheatley r. Ranquit Law Firm in Annapolis, MO before joining Boerner & Goldsmith Law Firm, P, C. in 1993. He is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association, the Ida County Bar Association. He earned the Iowa Supreme Court Community Service Award for District 3B in 2004 and 2008. 

Magistrate Karla J. Henderson

Magistrate Karla J. Henderson was appointed as Ida County Magistrate in 2009. She has served as an Assistant County Attorney for Linn County, Assistant Iowa Attorney General – Regents and Human Services Division, staff attorney for Linn County Advocate and in private practice with the law firm Forristal & Henderson. She has a degree in medical technology and is a registered medial technologist. Henderson earned her undergraduate degree from Simpson College in 1974 and her law degree from the University of Iowa in 1986 and a MPA from Iowa State University in 1987. She is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association, American Bar Association and Ida County Bar Association. She is married with two children and four grandchildren.

Magistrate Francis A. Honrath

Magistrate Francis A. Honrath, Larchwood, was appointed to serve Lyon County in 1997. He graduated from Moorhead State University in 1977 and earned his law degree from Creighton University in 1981. Honrath served as Lyon County attorney, Lyon County judicial hospitalization referee, president of State Savings Bank in Bedford, and currently practices law. He is a member of the Iowa Association of Magistrate Judges and is a District 3A representative. He is married and has seven children.

Magistrate John Kauer

Magistrate John Kauer was appointed to serve Emmet County in 1997.

Magistrate Mark J. Laddusaw

Magistrate Mark J. Laddusaw was appointed in 2000 to serve Kossuth County in District 3A. Laddusaw received his undergraduate degree from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake and his law degree from Creighton University in 1992. He is in private practice with the firm of Lynch and Lynch, in Algona, Iowa. He resides in Burt with his wife and seven children. Laddusaw is a member of the Kossuth County Bar Association and the Iowa State Bar Association.

Magistrate Daniel A. Meloy

Magistrate Daniel A. Meloy, Larrabee, was appointed to serve Cherokee County starting in July, 2007. He received his undergraduate degree from Iowa State University with a bachelors degree in Science and Ag Business in 1980. In 1995 he earned his juris doctorate degree from Creighton University. Meloy is a member of the American Bar Association and Iowa State Bar Association. He married and has one son.

 Magistrate Stephanie Forker Parry

Magistrate Stephanie Forker Parry was appointed to serve Woodbury County commencing January 1, 2008. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of South Dakota, majoring in criminal justice. Magistrate Parry obtained a law degree from the University of South Dakota in 1995. She is in private practice with the law firm Forker & Parry in Sioux City and is licensed to work in Iowa and South Dakota. She is also a member of the Iowa State Bar Association and South Dakota State Bar Association.

Magistrate Dan W. Pluim

Magistrate Dan W. Pluim, Orange City, was appointed to serve Sioux County in 1989. He earned his undergraduate degree in 1977 from Dordt College and his law degree in 1979 from the University of Iowa. He graduated with high honors. He served as assistant Sioux County attorney in 1979 and now practices law with a private firm. Pluim is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association, Volunteer Lawyers Project and the Sioux County Bar Association, Low Fee Panel. He is married and has four children.

Magistrate Jeffrey P. Queck

Magistrate Jeffrey P. Queck was appointed to serve O'Brien County in 1997.

Magistrate William W. Ranniger

Magistrate William W. Ranniger, Manning, was appointed to serve Crawford County in 1998.

Magistrate Gary G. Taylor

Magistrate Gary G. Taylor, Castana, was appointed to serve Monona County in February, 1999.

Magistrate Patrick H. Tott

Magistrate Patrick H. Tott, Sioux City, was appointed to serve Woodbury County in 1994. He received his undergraduate degree from Creighton University in 1989, and his law degree from Creighton Law School in 1991. Tott has been in private practice since 1991. He currently is a sole practitioner. Tott is a member of the Iowa and Woodbury County Bar Associations, Nebraska and Dakota County Bar Associations, Iowa Judges Association and the Iowa Magistrates Association.

Magistrate Dianne Wallwey

Magistrate Dianne Wallwey, Spencer, was appointed to serve Clay County in 2004. She attended Creighton University, where she earned her law degree in 1994. She has served as assistant county attorney in Spencer for the Child Support Recovery Unit and as assistant county attorney for Woodbury and Emmet counties. Wallwey is a member of the Northwest Iowa Women Attorney's Association, Iowa State, Nebraska State and American Bar Associations, as well as the National Association of Counsel for Children.

Magistrate Joshua J. Walsh

Magistrate Joshua J. Walsh, Newell, was appointed to serve Buena Vista County in 2007. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 2001 with a degree in education and earned his law degree from the University of South Dakota in 2004. He is a member of the Gailey and Walsh Law Firm. He is also a member of the Buena Vista County and Iowa State Bar Associations and is married.

Magistrate Fredrick Year

Magistrate Fredrick Year was appointed to serve Osceola County in 1996.