Judge Clay of Linn County was appointed to the bench on September 22, 2021. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Iowa in 1997. She then earned her Juris Doctorate at the University Of Maryland Law School in 2006. After graduation from law school, Judge Clay was in private practice in Clarence, Iowa from 2007-2008. From 2008-2015 Judge Clay served as an Assistant Attorney General with the Linn County Child Support Recovery Unit in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In 2015 Judge Clay became an Assistant Linn County Attorney. She began as a Criminal Prosecutor, and then transferred to the Juvenile Division in 2018, where she remained until her appointment to the District Court bench. Judge Clay is a member of the Iowa Judges Association, Linn County Bar Association, and Jones County Magistrate Nominating Commission. She also presides over the District 6 Drug Treatment Court.