A state trial court

7th Judicial District Court

A general-jurisdiction trial court in Iowa.

The 7th Judicial District Court is a general-jurisdiction trial court in Iowa, where most civil and criminal cases are first heard. Its judges are chosen by gubernatorial appointment from a nominating commission, followed by retention elections, the method Iowa uses for its judges. This page lists the court's sitting judges, from Iowa's official judicial directory.

Judges in history

Currently serving

Merit selection

Selection

8-yr

Term

Current judges

Judge	Since
Joel W. Barrows	–
Jeffrey D. Bert	–
Meghan K. Corbin	–
Mark R. Fowler	–
Mark R. Lawson	–
Jeffrey C. McDaniel	–
Patrick A. McElyea	–
Elizabeth M. O'Donnell	–
Thomas G. Reidel	–
Tamra J. Roberts	–
Stuart P. Werling	–

Former judges

No former judges on record.

How a judge reaches this court. Judges of the 7th Judicial District Court are appointed by the governor to 8-year terms and then face yes-or-no retention elections. Selection methods vary by jurisdiction and have changed over time; this page reflects the court’s current method (source: National Center for State Courts). Open any judge to see their tenure and whom they succeeded.

Source: Iowa Judicial Branch, District Court Judges; selection method from the National Center for State Courts. Data last verified 2026-07-02. Verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).