District court, Judicial District 4
Amy Zacharias
District Court Judge · District 4
About
Judge Zacharias was appointed to district associate judge in December 2015 and district court judge in March 2019. She received her BSBA from Creighton University in 1998 and her Juris Doctorate from Creighton University School of Law in 2001, magna cum laude. She clerked for Judge John Irwin with the Nebraska Court…
Retention votes
| Election | Yes | No | Kept by |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 3, 2026 | 34,602 | 15,026 | 69.7% yes |
What lawyers said
Before each retention vote, the Iowa State Bar Association asks lawyers who’ve appeared before the judge to rate them from 1 (very poor) to 5 (excellent), and whether the judge should be kept.3
92.8% of 69 responding lawyers said to keep the judge (2026).
| Question | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Knowledge and use of the law | 4.4 |
| Sees the facts of a case clearly | 4.4 |
| On time for court | 4.7 |
| Listens to arguments and testimony | 4.4 |
| Runs the courtroom well | 4.5 |
| Temperament and manner | 4.5 |
| Clear, well-written decisions | 4.4 |
| Rules promptly | 4.5 |
| Uses technology to improve the courts | 4.5 |
| Avoids needless personal criticism | 4.4 |
| Decides on the law and facts, not outside pressure | 4.2 |
| Courteous and patient | 4.4 |
| Treats people equally | 4.6 |
| Fair to people without a lawyer | 4.5 |
| Said to keep the judge | 92.8% |
| Lawyers responding | 69 |
Source: Iowa State Bar Association Judicial Performance Review: 2026 (page 39).
Appeals from this judge’s cases
1 appeal on record; 1 reversed or vacated at least in part.4
- Criminal appeal No. 23-1063AI summary The defendant appealed her convictions for second-degree murder and child endangerment causing death, arguing that several legal errors occurred during her trial. The court reversed the district court's judgment and sent the case back for further proceedings.