District court, Judicial District 5
Samantha J. Gronewald
District Court Judge · District 5C · Polk County
About
Judge Gronewald, Polk County, was appointed to the bench in December 2017. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa in 2000 and her law degree from Drake University Law School in 2003. Judge Gronewald was in private practice before her appointment.
Retention votes
| Election | Yes | No | Kept by |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 3, 2026 | 98,497 | 43,293 | 69.5% 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
97.4% of 152 responding lawyers said to keep the judge (2026).
| Question | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Knowledge and use of the law | 4.5 |
| Sees the facts of a case clearly | 4.5 |
| On time for court | 4.6 |
| Listens to arguments and testimony | 4.6 |
| Runs the courtroom well | 4.6 |
| Temperament and manner | 4.7 |
| Clear, well-written decisions | 4.5 |
| Rules promptly | 4.6 |
| Uses technology to improve the courts | 4.6 |
| Avoids needless personal criticism | 4.6 |
| Decides on the law and facts, not outside pressure | 4.5 |
| Courteous and patient | 4.7 |
| Treats people equally | 4.7 |
| Fair to people without a lawyer | 4.6 |
| Said to keep the judge | 97.4% |
| Lawyers responding | 152 |
Source: Iowa State Bar Association Judicial Performance Review: 2026 (page 43).
Appeals from this judge’s cases
3 appeals on record; 2 reversed or vacated at least in part.4
- Criminal appeal No. 22-1967AI summary A person requested to be removed from the sex offender registry, but a lower court denied the application. The individual argued that the court of appeals was wrong to decide they had not finished required treatment programming. The Iowa Supreme Court affirmed…
- Criminal appeal No. 22-1681AI summary The defendant challenged his conviction for soliciting commercial sexual activity, arguing that certain evidence was unfair and his sentence was illegal. The Iowa Supreme Court vacated the previous court decision and reversed the district court's judgment. Thi…
- Environmental Law and Policy Center, Iowa Environmental Council and Sierra Club v. Iowa Utilities Board, and MidAmerican Energy Company, and…