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 & Jacobsen (1990-1996), assistant Jasper County Attorney (1996-2009), and Jasper County Attorney (2009-2018). He is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association and the Iowa Judges Association.