All Iowa judges up for judicial retention retained

In this year's general election on Nov. 5, all Iowa judges who stood for judicial retention successfully retained their positions, as confirmed by the Iowa Secretary of State. A total of 69 judges including one Supreme Court justice, four appellate judges, and 64 district court judges were up for retention.

Iowa Supreme Court Justice David May, whose position was on the ballot, was retained by voters. Also retained were Iowa Court of Appeals Judges Tyler Buller, Mary Chicchelly, Samuel Langholz, and Chief Judge Mary Ellen Tabor.

Ahead of the election, The Iowa State Bar Association (ISBA) published the 2024 Judicial Performance Review in October, inviting ISBA members to participate in an anonymous survey. This biennial review, conducted in retention election years, provides Iowa voters with informed feedback on judges' performance. The survey is one of the ways the ISBA supports transparency and accountability within the judiciary, enabling voters to make educated decisions at the polls.

"This year's retention results reaffirm Iowa's commitment to a fair and well-regarded judiciary, with all judges receiving voter support to continue their service," said Guy Cook, ISBA past president and chair of the Independence of the Judiciary Committee.

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