Judge Steensland 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.