District court, Judicial District 8
Joshua Schier
District Court Judge · District 8B
About
Judge Schier was appointed to the Iowa District Court in January 2022. Judge Schier was born in Burlington, Iowa, and graduated from Burlington Notre Dame High School. He attended Western Illinois University where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree, both in American History.…
Retention votes
| Election | Yes | No | Kept by |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 5, 2024 | 24,873 | 9,333 | 72.7% 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
82.6% of 23 responding lawyers said to keep the judge (2024).
| Question | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Knowledge and use of the law | 3.9 |
| Sees the facts of a case clearly | 3.9 |
| On time for court | 4.2 |
| Listens to arguments and testimony | 3.8 |
| Runs the courtroom well | 3.6 |
| Temperament and manner | 3.5 |
| Clear, well-written decisions | 4.0 |
| Rules promptly | 3.8 |
| Uses technology to improve the courts | 3.9 |
| Avoids needless personal criticism | 3.8 |
| Decides on the law and facts, not outside pressure | 4.0 |
| Courteous and patient | 3.6 |
| Treats people equally | 4.0 |
| Fair to people without a lawyer | 3.8 |
| Said to keep the judge | 82.6% |
| Lawyers responding | 23 |
Source: Iowa State Bar Association Judicial Performance Review: 2024 (page 40).
Appeals from this judge’s cases
1 appeal on record; 0 reversed or vacated at least in part.4
- Criminal appeal No. 23-1475AI summary A defendant appealed his convictions for assaulting peace officers while displaying a dangerous weapon. He argued that there was not enough evidence to prove he pointed the weapon in a threatening manner or toward the officers. The court affirmed the lower cou…