District court, Judicial District 5
Kristen Formanek
District Associate Judge · District 5C
About
Judge Formanek was appointed as a District Associate Judge in March 2023. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa and her law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law. Prior to her appointment, Judge Formanek served as Assistant Polk County Attorney and as Assistant Story…
Retention votes
| Election | Yes | No | Kept by |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 5, 2024 | 111,220 | 49,446 | 69.2% 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
92.5% of 40 responding lawyers said to keep the judge (2024).
| Question | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Knowledge and use of the law | 4.2 |
| Sees the facts of a case clearly | 4.1 |
| On time for court | 4.5 |
| Listens to arguments and testimony | 4.4 |
| Runs the courtroom well | 4.3 |
| Temperament and manner | 4.4 |
| Clear, well-written decisions | 4.1 |
| Rules promptly | 4.4 |
| Uses technology to improve the courts | 4.4 |
| Avoids needless personal criticism | 4.3 |
| Decides on the law and facts, not outside pressure | 4.2 |
| Courteous and patient | 4.4 |
| Treats people equally | 4.3 |
| Fair to people without a lawyer | 4.3 |
| Said to keep the judge | 92.5% |
| Lawyers responding | 40 |
Source: Iowa State Bar Association Judicial Performance Review: 2024 (page 35).
Appeals from this judge’s cases
2 appeals on record; 0 reversed or vacated at least in part.4