District court, Judicial District 2
Colleen D. Weiland
District Court Judge · District 2A
About
Judge Weiland was appointed to the bench in 2007. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa in 1991 and graduated with distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1994. Judge Weiland previously engaged in the private practice of law in Mason City and instructed…
Retention votes
| Election | Yes | No | Kept by |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 3, 2026 | 35,086 | 11,965 | 74.6% 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
95.8% of 72 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 | 4.6 |
| Listens to arguments and testimony | 4.6 |
| Runs the courtroom well | 4.6 |
| Temperament and manner | 4.5 |
| Clear, well-written decisions | 4.3 |
| Rules promptly | 4.2 |
| Uses technology to improve the courts | 4.4 |
| Avoids needless personal criticism | 4.6 |
| Decides on the law and facts, not outside pressure | 4.5 |
| Courteous and patient | 4.6 |
| Treats people equally | 4.7 |
| Fair to people without a lawyer | 4.5 |
| Said to keep the judge | 95.8% |
| Lawyers responding | 72 |
Source: Iowa State Bar Association Judicial Performance Review: 2026 (page 34).
Appeals from this judge’s cases
2 appeals on record; 2 reversed or vacated at least in part.4
- Worthwhile Wind, LLC v. Worth County Board of SupervisorsAI summary A wind energy company argued it had a right to develop a project under old rules after a county passed a moratorium and new regulations. The district court ruled in favor of the company, finding the county acted in bad faith. The Iowa Supreme Court reversed th…
- Iowa Northern Railway Company v. Floyd County Board of Supervisors and Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors, acting as Trustees for Joint…AI summary A drainage district wanted to drill a pipe through a railroad embankment to improve water drainage, but a court had previously blocked this action. The district argued that federal law prevented them from forcing the railroad to build a culvert. The Iowa Supre…