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Judges and Magistrates

Michael D. Huppert

Chief District Court Judge: District 5C

Chief Judge Michael D. Huppert 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 appointment to...

Scott J. Beattie

District Court Judge

Judge Scott J. Beattie 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 Advocate General's...

Sarah Crane

District Court Judge

Judge Sarah E. Crane 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 grew up in Mason City, Iowa. She received...

David Faith

District Court Judge: District 5A

Judge Faith, Indianola, 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 the...

Jeffrey D. Farrell

District Court Judge: District 5C

Judge Farrell, Urbandale, was appointed to the bench in 2013. He was born in Fort Dodge and also lived in Lytton before moving to Carroll and graduating from Carroll High School. He received his BA in 1986 and JD in 1989, both from the University of Iowa. He was a...

Celene Gogerty

District Court Judge: 5C

Judge Gogerty 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 Polk County...

Patrick Greenwood

District Judge: District 5

Judge Greenwood, Lamoni, 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 magistrate...

Samantha J. Gronewald

District Court Judge 5C

Judge Gronewald 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

District Court Judge

Judge Jacobsen 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, Clayton &...

Christopher Kemp

District Court Judge: District 5C

Judge Kemp 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 Inn of...

Heather Lauber

District Court Judge: District 5C

Judge Lauber, West Des Moines, was appointed to the district court bench 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...

Coleman J. McAllister

District Court Judge: 5C

Judge McAllister 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 Clerk Fifth...

Brad McCall

District Court Judge: District 5A

Judge McCall, Newton, 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. Prior to taking the bench, he was in private practice, specializing in litigation and trial...

Lawrence P. McLellan

District Court Judge: District 5C

Judge McLellan 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. Upon graduation...

Thomas P. "Tom" Murphy

District Court Judge

Judge Murphy 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 from Drake...

David Nelmark

District Court Judge: 5C

Judge Nelmark 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 past president...

David M. Porter

District Court Judge: District 5C

Judge Porter 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 in 2004,...

Dustria Ann Relph

District Judge: District 5B

Judge Relph, Corydon, 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 Firm,...

Elisabeth Reynoldson

District Court Judge: 5B

Judge Reynoldson 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 and 2013-2019....

Terry Rickers

District Court Judge: District 5A

Judge Terry Rickers, Newton, was appointed as a District Court Judge in October 20 IO after serving as a Magistrate in Jasper County since 2005. He received his undergraduate degree from lowa State University in 1983. He attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and earned his law degree in 1986. After...

Stacy Ritchie

District Court Judge: 5A

Judge Ritchie 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 of appeals...

Scott D. Rosenberg

District Court Judge: District 5C

Judge Rosenberg, Des Moines, was appointed to the bench in January of 1997. Born in Des Moines, Iowa, 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...

Paul Scott

District Court Judge: District 5C

Judge Scott, Des Moines, 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

District Court Judge: District 5C

Judge Seidlin, Clive, 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. Originally from Rockford, Illinois, Judge Seidlin attended Drake University where he received his undergraduate degree...

Charles Sinnard

District Court Judge: District 5A

Judge Sinnard, Urbandale, 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 Dallas...

Patrick Smith

District Court Judge: District 5C

Judge, Smith, Des Moines, was appointed to the bench 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 in Des...

Jeanie K. Vaudt

District Court Judge: District 5C

Judge Vaudt 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 Law Review....

Kimberly Ayotte

District Associate Judge

Judge Kimberly Ayotte 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 Law...

Romonda D. Belcher

District Associate Judge: District 5C

Judge Belcher was appointed to the bench on August 20, 2010, becoming the first African American female judge in the state of Iowa. Prior to her appointment, she was an Assistant Polk County Attorney for 15 years. Born in Plymouth, North Carolina, she earned her bachelor’s degree with honors from...

Gregory D. Brandt

District Associate Judge: District 5C

Judge Brandt, Des Moines, was appointed to the bench in March of 1997. Born in Ottumwa, Iowa, 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...

Virginia Cobb

District Associate Judge: District 5A

Judge Virginia Cobb, Dallas Center, 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...

Susan Cox

District Associate Judge: District 5C

Judge Cox was appointed to the bench in 2014. She grew up on the northeast side of Des Moines. After graduating from the University of Northern Iowa with highest honors, she received her law degree with distinction from the University of Iowa college of Law. Judge Cox practiced law for...

Erica Crisp

District Associate Judge: 5A

Judge Crisp 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. from the...

Monty W. Franklin

District Associate Judge: District 5B

Judge Franklin was appointed to the bench in 2007. He earned his bachelor's degree from Iowa State University and his law degree, with distinction, from the University of Iowa. Judge Franklin served as a Wayne County Attorney from 1982 to 1986 and has also been in private practice since 1979....

Becky Goettsch

District Associate Judge: District 5C

Judge Goettsch, West Des Moines, 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. Prior to her appointment as magistrate in 2012, Judge Goettsch was in private practice from 1994-1998 and served as...

Brendan Greiner

District Associate Judge: 5C

Judge Brendan Greiner 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 Polk...

Steven W. Guiter

District Associate Judge: District 5A

Judge Guiter 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 the bench....

Steven J. Holwerda

District Associate Judge: District 5

Judge Holwerda, Newton, 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 until...

Erik Howe

District Associate Judge: District 5C

Judge Howe, Polk City, was appointed to the bench 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

District Associate Judge: District 5A

Judge Parker, Indianola, 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 as...

Brent Pattison

District Associate Judge: 5C

Judge Pattison 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 law at...

Lynn Poschner

District Associate Judge

Judge Poschner 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. Edwin Inn...

Jesse Ramirez

District Associate Judge: District 5C

Judge Ramirez 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 attorney, assistant...

Mark F. Schlenker

District Associate Judge: District 5A

Judge Schlenker, Indianola, was appointed to the bench as District Associate Judge in 2012. He was born in Des Moines, graduated from Indianola Community High School in 1972, received a B.S. in Economics from Iowa State University in 1975, and his J.D. from Creighton University in 1978. Prior to appointment...

Rachael E. Seymour

District Associate Judge: District 5C

Judge Seymour, Des Moines, was appointed to the bench in June, 2010. She was born in Madrid, Iowa and received her bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa in 1995. She earned a Masters of Public Administration and Juris Doctorate with honors from Drake University in 1999. Judge Seymour represented...

Kimberly Smith

District Associate Judge: District 5C

Judge Smith 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 public defender...

Tabitha Lee Turner

District 5C: District Associate Judge

Judge Turner 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 in criminal...

Craig E. Block

District Associate Probate Judge: District 5C

Judge Block, Ankeny, 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...

Richard G. Blane, II

Senior Judge: District 5C

Judge Blane, West Des Moines, was appointed to the bench in 1995. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he attended Drake University where he earned his undergraduate degree in 1970 and his law degree in 1973. Before his judicial appointment, he served as an assistant Polk County attorney, first assistant United States...

Robert J. Blink

Senior Judge

Judge Blink of West Des Moines was appointed to the bench in 1995. He received his undergraduate degree in English and Speech Communications from North Central College in 1972 and his law degree from Drake University Law School in 1975. He served as an assistant Polk County Attorney, Assistant Iowa...

Richard B. Clogg

Senior Judge: District 5A

Judge Clogg, Indianola, 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...

Arthur E. Gamble

Senior Judge: District 5C

Judge Gamble, Clive, was appointed to the bench in 1983. Born in Des Moines, Iowa, 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...

Robert A. Hutchison

Senior Judge: District 5C

Judge Hutchison, Runnells, was appointed to the bench in 1990. Born in Prairie City, Iowa, he earned his bachelor's degree from Harvard University in 1971. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1974 with his law degree and worked at a private law firm until his appointment to the...

John D. Lloyd

Senior Judge: 5B

Senior Judge Lloyd, Osceola, was appointed to the bench in 2002. He was born and raised in Ottumwa, Iowa and 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...

Odell McGhee, II

Senior Judge: 5C

Senior Judge McGhee, Des Moines, 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...

William A. Price

Senior Judge: 5C

Senior Judge Price, Ankeny, 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...

Karen A. Romano

Senior Judge: 5C

Senior Judge Romano, Johnston, 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...

Gina Burress

Magistrate: District 5A

Magistrate Gina Burress, De Soto, 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...

Heather Dickinson

Magistrate: District 5C

Magistrate Heather Dickinson, Des Moines, 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...

Marc Elcock

Magistrate: District 5B

Timothy Farmer

Magistrate: 5A

Magistrate Timothy J. Farmer, Perry, 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...

Adam D. Hanson

Magistrate: District 5A

Magistrate Adam D. Hanson, Winterset, was appointed to serve Madison County 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...

Matthew C. Hanson

Magistrate: District 5B

Magistrate Matthew C. Hanson was appointed to serve Taylor County in June, 2014.

Wes Hoyer

Magistrate: District 5C

Magistrate Hoyer, Bondurant, was appointed to serve Polk County in 2023. He earned his undergraduate degree from Coe College in 2017 and then his law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2020. Magistrate Hoyer is in private practice in Bondurant and Toledo, Iowa. He is a...

Anastasia Baker Hurn

Magistrate: District 5C

Magistrate Ananstasia Baker Hurn was appointed to serve Polk County August 1, 2013. She graduated from the University of Iowa with a bachelor's in psychology and earned her law degree from Drake University in 1998. Magistrate Hurn was an Assistant Polk County Attorney from 2007-2013. She is married with two...

Jonathan Kimple

Magistrate: District 5A

Jonathan Kimple was appointed to serve Dallas County in 2008. He graduated from the University of Dubuque in 1973 and Drake Law School in 1977. He was a bus driver for Keyline Transit in Dubuque before attending Drake. He has served as an Assistant Dallas County Attorney and is in...

Peter Lahn

Magistrate: District 5A

Magistrate Peter Lahn, was appointed to serve Jasper County in 2021. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign in Political Science and his law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 1993. Magistrate Lahn was previously Senior Vice President and General...

Jenna Kaye Lain

Magistrate: 5B

Magistrate Jenna Lain was appointed to the bench in November 2016. She received her undergraduate degree Iowa State University and her J.D. from Drake Law School in 2009 with High Honors. Her past experience includes private practice in Corydon, Iowa. She is the current chair of the Taxation Section of...

Jeffrey M. Lipman

Magistrate: District 5B

Magistrate Jeff Lipman was appointed as a Polk County Magistrate in 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 Judges Association and is active in judicial education where he is a frequent...

Adnan Mahmutagic

Magistrate: District 5C

Magistrate Mahmutagic was appointed to the bench 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: District 5B

Magistrate Michael D. Maynes, Greenfield, was appointed to serve Adair County in 2017. He earned his undergraduate degree from Buena Vista University in 1997 and his law degree from Creighton University Law School in 2000. Magistrate Maynes was employed at Cardinal IG in Greenfield before attending Creighton. He has served...

Anita Olson-Kiene

Magistrate: District 5B

Magistrate Anita M. Olson, St. Charles, IA, 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...

Todd G. Nielsen

Magistrate

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...

Leah Patton

Magistrate: District 5C

Magistrate Leah Patton, Ames, 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...

Katie Ranes

Magistrate: District 5C

Magistrate Ranes was appointed to the bench in May 2018. She received her undergraduate degree from Roanoke College in 2004 and her Juris Doctorate from Drake University Law School in 2007. She worked in private practice beginning in 2007 and was a certified family law mediator beginning in 2010, prior...

Daniel Rockhold

Magistrate: District 5B

Magistrate Daniel R. Rockhold, of Corydon, Iowa, 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.

Beth Tigges

Magistrate: District 5C

Magistrate Beth Tigges, Des Moines, 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...

Meggen L. Weeks

Magistrate: District 5B

Magistrate Weeks was appointed to the bench 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.

Andrew J. Zimmerman

Magistrate: 5B

Magistrate Zimmerman was appointed to the bench in February 2017. He attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, graduating in 2006 with a Bachelor's degree in political science, continuing on to receive his J.D. at Creighton University of Law in 2012.

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