Michael D. Huppert
Chief Judge Michael D. Huppert, Polk County, was appointed to the bench in December of 1999. He earned his bachelor’s degree in 1979 from Drake University and his law degree from Drake University Law School in 1982, where he was inducted into the Order of the Coif. Prior to his...
Scott J. Beattie
Judge Scott J. Beattie, Polk County, was appointed to the bench in 2018. He received his bachelor's degree from Cedarville College in 1989 and his law degree with honors from Drake University in 1992. Before taking the bench, Judge Beattie served on active duty with the United States Navy Judge...
Sarah Crane
Judge Sarah E. Crane, Polk County, was appointed as a District Court Judge in the Fifth Judicial District, based in Des Moines, Iowa, in June 2018. Judge Crane was also appointed as a member of the Iowa Business Specialty Court in November 2019. She received her bachelor's degree summa cum...
David Faith
Judge Faith, Warren County, was appointed to the bench in 2023. He earned his undergraduate degree from Concordia College in 2001, his master’s degree in history from Syracuse University in 2004, and his law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2008, where he was inducted into...
Jeffrey D. Farrell
Judge Farrell, Polk County, was appointed to the bench in 2013. He received his BA in 1986 and JD in 1989, both from the University of Iowa. He was a law clerk for the Fifth Judicial District from 1989–1991. Judge Farrell served for twelve years as an assistant attorney general...
Celene Gogerty
Judge Gogerty, Polk County, was appointed to the bench in November 2018. She received her Bachelor's degree from Drake University in 1992, and her J.D. from the University of Iowa in 1995 with Distinction. Her past experience includes working as the Assistant Linn County Attorney from 1995-2000, and the Assistant...
Patrick Greenwood
Judge Greenwood, Decatur County, was appointed to the district court bench in February of 2016. He received his undergraduate degree from Iowa State University in 1992 and his law degree from Drake University Law School in 1998. Prior to his appointment to the district court bench, he was a judicial...
Samantha J. Gronewald
Judge Gronewald, Polk County, was appointed to the bench in December 2017. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa in 2000 and her law degree from Drake University Law School in 2003. Judge Gronewald was in private practice before her appointment.
Michael K. Jacobsen
Judge Jacobsen, Jasper County, was appointed to the bench in June 2018. He received his bachelor's degree in political science from South Dakota State University in 1990 and his Juris Doctorate from Drake in 1993. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Jacobsen was in private practice for Diehl,...
Christopher Kemp
Judge Kemp, Polk County, was appointed as a District Judge in January 2024, after serving as a District Associate Judge since July 2019. He received his Political Science degree from Carleton College in 2006 and his law degree from Drake University in 2009. He is a member of the Blackstone...
Heather Lauber
Judge Lauber, Polk County, was appointed to the Iowa District Court in December 2016. She attended Drake University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in 2000 and her law degree in 2003. Judge Lauber was in private practice from 2003-2011. She was Assistant Public Defender from 2011–2015. Judge Lauber was...
Coleman J. McAllister
Judge McAllister, Polk County, was appointed to the bench in April 2019. He received his undergraduate degree in History from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1990 and his J.D. from the University of Missouri Law School in 1993. Before his appointment to the bench, he worked as the Judicial Law...
Brad McCall
Judge McCall, Jasper County, was appointed to the bench in 2010. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa in 1976 and his law degree, with honors, from Drake University Law School in 1978. In 2024, he received his Masters of Judicial Studies Degree from the National Judicial...
Lawrence P. McLellan
Judge McLellan, Polk County, was appointed to the bench in 2012. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1979 from Drake University. He received his law degree from Drake University in 1983. In 2006 he earned a masters in law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in dispute resolution....
Thomas P. "Tom" Murphy
Judge Murphy, Dallas County, was appointed to the bench in 2017. In 1985, Judge Murphy received his undergraduate degree as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Marquette University. Judge Murphy then served four years on active duty in the United States Army. In 1992, he received his law degree with Honors...
David Nelmark
Judge Nelmark, Polk County, was appointed to the bench in 2019. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Drake University in 1999 and his law degree from Stanford Law School in 2005. His past experience includes working for Gislason & Hunter LLP and Belin McCormick, PC. He is a...
David M. Porter
Judge Porter, Polk County, was appointed to the District Court bench in October 2015. He received dual Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Maryland at College Park, one in English/Communications, and the second in Criminology/ Criminal Justice. Judge Porter earned his law degree from Drake University Law School...
Dustria Ann Relph
Judge Relph, Wayne County, was appointed to the bench in 2014. She graduated from Iowa Methodist School of Nursing in 1988, Mercy College of Health Sciences in 2003, and Drake University Law School in 2006. Before her appointment, Judge Relph was in private practice with the Chambers & Relph Law...
Elisabeth Reynoldson
Judge Reynoldson, Clarke County, was appointed to the bench in July 2019. She received her undergraduate degree from Iowa State University in 1989, graduating with honors, and her JD with Distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law. Her past experience includes a private practice in Osceola from 1992-2002...
Terry Rickers
Judge Terry Rickers, Jasper County, was appointed as a District Court Judge in October 2010 after serving as a Magistrate in Jasper County since 2005. He received his undergraduate degree from Iowa State University in 1983. He attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he earned his law degree in 1986....
Stacy Ritchie
Judge Ritchie, Dallas County, was appointed to the bench in September 2021. She received her undergraduate degree from Bethel College in 1992 and her J.D. from Drake University Law School in 1998. Prior to her appointment, she worked as a contract specialist for Principal Financial group in 1999, a court...
Scott D. Rosenberg
Judge Rosenberg, Polk County, was appointed to the bench in January of 1997. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa in 1976 and his law degree from Drake University Law School in 1979. He has experience in private law practice and private business, as well as experience...
Paul Scott
Judge Scott, Polk County, was appointed to the bench in 2014. He received his undergraduate degree from Drake University in 1984 and his law degree from Drake University Law School in 1987. Prior to taking the bench, he was in private practice. Judge Scott practiced in the State and Federal...
Joseph W. Seidlin
Judge Seidlin, Polk County, was appointed as a District Court Judge in November 2018, after serving as a District Associate Judge since August, 2013. Before that, he served as a Polk County Magistrate for 8 years. Judge Seidlin attended Drake University where he received his undergraduate degree in 1982, and...
Charles Sinnard
Judge Sinnard, Dallas County, was appointed to the bench in 2022. He earned his undergraduate degree in history and Asian studies from the University of Iowa and his law degree from Drake University Law School. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Sinnard served as a prosecutor, first as an Assistant...
Patrick D. Smith
Judge Smith, Polk County, was appointed to the Iowa District Court in 2023. He earned his undergraduate degree from Drake University in 1989 and his law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1993. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Smith was in private practice...
Jeanie K. Vaudt
Judge Vaudt, Polk County, was appointed to the bench in 2014. She received her undergraduate degree from Upper Iowa University in 1976 and an MA in Public Administration from Drake University before graduating from Drake University Law School with honors in 1991, where she was a member of the Drake...
Kimberly Ayotte
Judge Ayotte, Polk County, was appointed to the bench in February 2019. She received her undergraduate degree from Iowa State University in 1993 and her J.D. from the University of Iowa in 1996 with Distinction. Prior to her appointment, she worked as a staff attorney for 23 at the Youth...
Jordan Brackey
Judge Brackey, Polk County, was appointed to the bench in 2024. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa in 2004. He received his law degree from the Michigan State University College of Law in 2007, graduating magna cum laude. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge...
Gregory D. Brandt
Judge Brandt, Polk County, was appointed District Associate Judge in March 1997. He graduated from Drake University with a bachelor’s degree in 1984 and earned his law degree from the same institution in 1987. After graduation, Judge Brandt worked as a law clerk for the Eighth Judicial District until 1988....
Virginia Cobb
Judge Cobb, Dallas County, was appointed to serve as Dallas County Magistrate in 1995 and was appointed to serve as District Associate Judge in 2005. She attended Drake University, where she earned her undergraduate degree in 1978 and her law degree in 1982. She has served as assistant county attorney,...
Susan Cox
Judge Cox, Polk County, was appointed to the bench in 2014. After graduating from the University of Northern Iowa with the highest honors, she received her law degree with distinction from the University of Iowa college of Law. Judge Cox practiced law for more than twenty years at Legal Services...
Erica Crisp
Judge Crisp, Dallas County, was appointed to the bench in August 2021. Prior to her appointment, she worked as an assistant county attorney in Cerro Gordo county from 2008-2012, and assistant Dallas county attorney from 2012-2021. Judge Crisp received her undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University in 2005 and her J.D....
Kristen Formanek
Judge Formanek was appointed as a District Associate Judge in March 2023. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa and her law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law. Prior to her appointment, Judge Formanek served as Assistant Polk County Attorney and as Assistant Story...
Becky Goettsch
Judge Goettsch, Polk County, was appointed as District Associate Judge in 2017. She received her undergraduate degree from Iowa State University and her law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law. Prior to her appointment as magistrate in 2012, Judge Goettsch was in private practice from 1994-1998 and...
Brendan Greiner
Judge Greiner, Polk County, was appointed to the bench in 2018. He received his undergraduate degree from Iowa State University and his law degree from Drake University Law School. He is also a solicitor of England and Wales. Prior to his appointment, Judge Greiner was an assistant county attorney for...
Steven W. Guiter
Judge Guiter, Marion County, was appointed to the bench in January 2012. He received his bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University in 1978 and law degree from Drake University in 1982. Judge Guiter practiced law with the same firm following graduation from law school in 1982 until his appointment to...
Steven J. Holwerda
Judge Holwerda, Jasper County, was appointed in 2010 to serve as Jasper County Magistrate and in 2013 to serve as District Associate Judge. He received his bachelor's degree from Dordt College in 1979 and his law degree from Valparaiso University in 1983. Judge Holwerda was in private practice in Newton...
Erik Howe
Judge Howe, Polk County, was appointed District Associate Judge in September 2022. He earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Iowa State University in 2009 and his law degree from Drake University Law School in 2012. Judge Howe, prior to taking the bench, was an assistant county attorney in...
Kevin A. Parker
Judge Parker, Warren County, was appointed to the bench in 2005. He received his bachelor's degree from Gannon University in 1977 and his Juris Doctorate from Drake University in 1979. Judge Parker served as law clerk to the Honorable James P. Denato in 1980. While in private practice, he served...
Brent Pattison
Judge Pattison, Polk County, was appointed to the bench in May 2020. He received his bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University in 1993, and completing his law degree at the University of Minnesota Law School in 1999, graduating magna cum laude. Before his appointment, Judge Pattison was a clinical professor of...
Lynn Poschner
Judge Poschner, Polk County, was appointed to the bench in May 2018. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Northern Iowa in 2003 and her J.D. from Drake Law School in 2007 with High Honors. Her past experience includes private practice law. She is a member of C....
Jesse Ramirez
Judge Ramirez, Polk County, was appointed to the bench in July 2021. He received their undergraduate degree from Iowa State University in 2009 and their J.D. from Drake University Law School in 2013. Prior to their appointment, Judge Ramirez worked in private practice, as well as an assistant Story county...
Mark F. Schlenker
Judge Schlenker, Warren County, was appointed to the bench as District Associate Judge in 2012. He received a B.S. in Economics from Iowa State University in 1975, and his J.D. from Creighton University in 1978. Prior to appointment to the bench, he served as an Assistant Iowa Attorney General, an...
Rachael E. Seymour
Judge Seymour, Polk County, was appointed District Associate Judge in June 2010. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa in 1995. She earned a Masters of Public Administration and Juris Doctor with honors from Drake University in 1999. Judge Seymour represented both adults and children while working...
Kimberly Smith
Judge Smith, Polk County, was appointed to the bench in December 2020. She received her undergraduate degree from Mount Mercy University in 2000 and her Juris Doctorate from Drake University Law School in 2003. She worked as an associate attorney at Roehrick Law Firm from 2003 to 2008, an assistant...
Ashley Stewart
Judge Stewart, Polk County, was appointed to the bench in 2024. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Houston in 2003 and her law degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 2009. Prior to her appointment, Judge Stewart was a criminal defense solo practitioner, a claims specialist...
Tabitha Lee Turner
Judge Turner, Polk County, was appointed to the bench in August 2019. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Oregon State University in 2005, and her J.D. from Drake University Law School in 2011. Her past experiences include being the sole practitioner of Turner Law Firm P.L.L.C., specializing...
Katie Ranes
Judge Ranes, Polk County, was appointed District Associate Judge in 2022. She earned her undergraduate degree from Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia, and her law degree from Drake University Law School in 2007. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Ranes was a Magistrate Judge in Polk County and...
Craig E. Block
Judge Block was appointed to the bench in 2013. Born in Centerville, IA, he received his associate arts degree from IHCC in 1977, his bachelor's degree from Drake University in 1979, and his law degree, with honors from Drake University in 1981. Judge Block was in private practice for thirty-one...
Richard B. Clogg
Judge Clogg was appointed as a District Court Judge in 2012. He served as a District Associate Judge from 2000 until his appointment to the District bench. He was in private practice for 25 years prior to his appointment. Judge Clogg received his bachelor's degree from Simpson College in 1971...
Arthur E. Gamble
Judge Gamble was appointed to the bench in 1983. He attended the University of Iowa where he earned his bachelor's and law degree. He graduated with distinction in 1978 and worked in private practice until his appointment. Judge Gamble is a member of the Polk County and Iowa State Bar...
John D. Lloyd
Senior Judge Lloyd was appointed to the bench in 2002. He received his undergraduate degree from Drake University in 1971 and his law degree from Drake University Law School in 1974, both with honors. Before being appointed to the bench, Judge Lloyd worked in private law practice and as the...
Odell McGhee, II
Senior Judge McGhee was appointed as a District Associate Judge in February 2002. He received his bachelor’s degree from Cornell College in 1974 and his Juris Doctorate from Drake University Law School in 1977. Judge McGhee has worked as the Program Planner for the Iowa Commission of the Aging, Administrative...
Martha Mertz
Judge Mertz was appointed to the bench in February 2002. She received her undergraduate degree from Northeast Missouri State University in 1974 and she graduated with honors from Drake University Law School in 1982. Judge Mertz received the ICADV Gold Seal Award in 1994, the Athena Award in 1989, the...
William A. Price
Senior Judge Price was appointed to the bench in July 2001. He received his bachelor's degree from Drake University in 1970 and his law degree also from Drake University in 1972. Judge Price has worked as a trust officer, an assistant Polk County attorney and most currently in general private...
Karen A. Romano
Senior Judge Romano was appointed as a District Court Judge in December 2001. She received her bachelor’s degree from Creighton University in 1983 and her law degree from University of Iowa College of Law in 1986 with distinction. Judge Romano worked for a private law firm before serving as an...
Gina Burress
Magistrate Gina Burress was appointed to serve in Dallas County in 2021. She earned her undergraduate degree from Augustana University in 2005, and her law degree from Western Michigan University in 2010. Magistrate Burress is also employed by the Carr Law Firm in Des Moines, She is a member of...
Shireen Carter
Magistrate Shireen Carter was appointed to serve Lucas County in 2025. She earned her undergraduate degree from Simpson College in 1996 and her law degree from Drake University Law School in 2011. Magistrate Carter was previously employed as an Assistant State Public Defender in the Des Moines Juvenile Office. She...
Amy Davis
Magistrate Amy Davis was appointed to serve Dallas County in 2023. She earned her undergraduate degree from Mt. Mercy University in 2004 and her law degree from Drake University Law School in 2011. Magistrate Amy Davis is in private practice in Des Moines. She is a member of the Iowa...
Heather Dickinson
Magistrate Heather Dickinson was appointed to serve Polk County on August 1, 2005. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a BA in Economics. She received a law degree from Drake University and an LLM from the London School of Economics. Before her appointment she served as bank counsel and...
Robert Engler
Magistrate Robert Engler was appointed to serve Adams County in 2025. He earned his undergraduate degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1997 and his law degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 2000. Magistrate Engler has been an attorney in private practice in Burlington, Iowa, from 2000-2016...
Timothy Farmer
Magistrate Timothy J. Farmer was appointed to serve Guthrie County in 2021. He earned his undergraduate degree from The University of Washington in 2007 and his law degree from The University of Iowa College of Law in 2015. Magistrate Farmer worked in human resources before law school and is currently...
Jeremy Feitelson
Magistrate Jeremy Feitelson was appointed to serve Polk County in 2024. He earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Central Florida in 1997, a master’s degree in Physiology & Biophysics from the University of Louisville in 1999, a doctorate in Physiology & Biophysics from the University of Louisville in...
Robb Goedicke
Magistrate Robb D. Goedicke was appointed to serve Polk County in 2022. He earned his undergraduate degree from Iowa State University in 1990 and his law degree from Drake University Law School in 1997. Magistrate Goedicke served in Iowa Air National Guard as a Security Police Specialist and the United...
Justin Gross
Magistrate Justin John Gross was appointed to serve Polk County in 2024. He earned his undergraduate degree from University of Northern Iowa in 2000 and his law degree from Drake University Law School in 2008. Magistrate Gross is in private practice (Community Lawyers of Iowa) in Des Moines, Iowa. He...
Adam D. Hanson
Magistrate Adam D. Hanson was appointed to serve Madison County on August 1, 2009. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with his bachelor's degree in 2004, magna cum laude and earned his law degree from Drake University Law School in 2007. Adam has worked in general practice. He...
Jenna Kaye Lain
Magistrate Jenna Lain was appointed to serve Wayne County in November 2016. She received her undergraduate degree at Iowa State University and her J.D. from Drake Law School in 2009 with High Honors. Her experience includes private practice in Corydon, Iowa. She is the current chair of the Taxation Section...
Arielle Lipman
Magistrate Arielle Lipman was appointed to serve Polk County in 2024. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa in 2014 and her law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2016. Magistrate Lipman has been in private practice at the Lipman Law Firm in...
Jeffrey M. Lipman
Magistrate Jeff Lipman was appointed as a Dallas County Magistrate in February of 2024. Before that he served as a Polk County Magistrate since May of 2001. Magistrate Lipman is a 1989 graduate of the William Mitchell College of Law. Magistrate Lipman serves as the President of the Iowa Magistrate...
Adnan Mahmutagic
Magistrate Mahmutagic was appointed to serve Polk County in August 2021. He received his degree from Mt. Mercy University in 2000 and his Juris Doctorate from Drake Law School in 2002.
Michael Maynes
Magistrate Mahmutagic was appointed to serve Polk County in August 2021. He received his degree from Mt. Mercy University in 2000 and his Juris Doctorate from Drake Law School in 2002.
Todd G. Nielsen
Magistrate Nielsen was appointed to the bench in 2014. He received his undergraduate degree from Birmingham Southern College in 1986 and his J.D. from Cumberland Law School-Stanford University in 1989. Prior to his appointment, he worked in private practice for over 30 years in Creston, IA. He is a member...
Anita Olson-Kiene
Magistrate Anita M. Olson was appointed to serve Clarke County in 2023. She earned her undergraduate degree from Drake University in 1990 and her law degree from Drake Law School. Magistrate Olson was employed in private practice and is now a managing broker for a real estate company. She is...
Leah Patton
Magistrate Leah Patton was appointed to serve Polk County in 2022. She earned her undergraduate degrees from Iowa State University in 2002 and her law degree from Drake Law School in 2005. She was a judicial law clerk with the Third Judicial District of Iowa from 2005 to 2007 and...
Daniel Rockhold
Magistrate Daniel R. Rockhold was appointed magistrate of Decatur County, Iowa, in 2021. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa in 2004 and his law degree from Drake University in 2008.
Reyne See
Magistrate Reyne See was appointed to serve Jasper County in 2024. She earned her undergraduate degree from Grinnell College in 1997 and her law degree from Drake Law School in 2000. Magistrate See has been in private practice with Peglow, O’Hare, See & Eilers, PLC in Marshalltown since 2000. She...
Beth Tigges
Magistrate Beth Tigges was appointed to serve Polk County in October, 2013. She received her bachelor's degree in English from Iowa State University and her law degree from Drake University School of Law in 2008. She was previously employed as a public defender in Story County and Polk County prior...
Meggen L. Weeks
Magistrate Weeks was appointed to serve Ringgold County in January 2021. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa in 2011 and her law degree from Drake University Law School in 2014.