District court, Judicial District 3
Charles K. Borth
District Court Judge · District 3A
About
Judge Borth was appointed as district judge in June of 2018. He served as district associate judge since his appointment to the bench in October, 2009. He served as Assistant Clay County Attorney and was in private practice in Spencer since 1997. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mankato State…
Retention votes
| Election | Yes | No | Kept by |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 3, 2026 | 30,716 | 7,340 | 80.7% 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
96.8% of 63 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 | 4.8 |
| Listens to arguments and testimony | 4.7 |
| Runs the courtroom well | 4.8 |
| Temperament and manner | 4.6 |
| Clear, well-written decisions | 4.7 |
| Rules promptly | 4.7 |
| Uses technology to improve the courts | 4.5 |
| Avoids needless personal criticism | 4.7 |
| Decides on the law and facts, not outside pressure | 4.7 |
| Courteous and patient | 4.8 |
| Treats people equally | 4.8 |
| Fair to people without a lawyer | 4.7 |
| Said to keep the judge | 96.8% |
| Lawyers responding | 63 |
Source: Iowa State Bar Association Judicial Performance Review: 2026 (page 36).
Appeals from this judge’s cases
1 appeal on record; 0 reversed or vacated at least in part.4
- Criminal appeal No. 23-1117AI summary The defendant appealed his conviction for child endangerment, arguing that there was not enough evidence to prove he used unreasonable force or cruelty. He also challenged his sentence, claiming it was unfairly influenced by a statement from a legal representa…