District court, Judicial District 5
Celene Gogerty
District Court Judge · District 5C · Polk County
About
Judge Celene Gogerty, Polk County, was appointed to the bench in 2018. A proud East High alum, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Drake University’s College of Journalism and Mass Communication in 1992 and then graduated with distinction from the University of Iowa Law School in 1995. She served as…
Retention votes
| Election | Yes | No | Kept by |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 3, 2026 | 93,135 | 48,140 | 65.9% 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
89.2% of 148 responding lawyers said to keep the judge (2026).
| Question | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Knowledge and use of the law | 4.3 |
| Sees the facts of a case clearly | 4.2 |
| On time for court | 4.5 |
| Listens to arguments and testimony | 4.4 |
| Runs the courtroom well | 4.5 |
| Temperament and manner | 4.2 |
| Clear, well-written decisions | 4.3 |
| Rules promptly | 4.3 |
| Uses technology to improve the courts | 4.4 |
| Avoids needless personal criticism | 4.4 |
| Decides on the law and facts, not outside pressure | 4.4 |
| Courteous and patient | 4.3 |
| Treats people equally | 4.5 |
| Fair to people without a lawyer | 4.4 |
| Said to keep the judge | 89.2% |
| Lawyers responding | 148 |
Source: Iowa State Bar Association Judicial Performance Review: 2026 (page 42).
Appeals from this judge’s cases
2 appeals on record; 0 reversed or vacated at least in part.4
- Criminal appeal No. 24-2032
- Criminal appeal No. 25-0145AI summary The defendant appealed his convictions for theft by deception, arguing that the instructions given to the jury did not properly explain how his deceptive actions related to the transfer of property. The court affirmed the original judgments. This means the def…