About
Judge Jones was appointed to the bench as a district associate judge in 2007. He received his undergraduate degree from Cornell College in 1987 and his law degree from the University of Iowa in 1990. Prior to being appointed, Judge Jones worked as a Federal Public Defender and was managing…
Retention votes
| Election | Yes | No | Kept by |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 3, 2026 | 110,357 | 40,253 | 73.3% 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
98.3% of 59 responding lawyers said to keep the judge (2026).
| Question | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Knowledge and use of the law | 4.7 |
| Sees the facts of a case clearly | 4.7 |
| On time for court | 4.7 |
| Listens to arguments and testimony | 4.7 |
| Runs the courtroom well | 4.8 |
| Temperament and manner | 4.5 |
| Clear, well-written decisions | 4.6 |
| Rules promptly | 4.6 |
| Uses technology to improve the courts | 4.6 |
| Avoids needless personal criticism | 4.7 |
| Decides on the law and facts, not outside pressure | 4.7 |
| Courteous and patient | 4.6 |
| Treats people equally | 4.7 |
| Fair to people without a lawyer | 4.7 |
| Said to keep the judge | 98.3% |
| Lawyers responding | 59 |
Source: Iowa State Bar Association Judicial Performance Review: 2026 (page 45).
Appeals from this judge’s cases
1 appeal on record; 0 reversed or vacated at least in part.4