District court, Judicial District 5
Scott J. Beattie
District Court Judge · District 5C · Polk County
About
Judge Scott J. Beattie, Polk County, was appointed to the bench in 2018. He received his bachelor's degree from Cedarville College in 1989 and his law degree with honors from Drake University in 1992. Before taking the bench, Judge Beattie served on active duty with the United States Navy Judge…
Retention votes
| Election | Yes | No | Kept by |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 3, 2026 | 98,019 | 45,346 | 68.4% 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
96.6% of 145 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 | 4.4 |
| Rules promptly | 4.3 |
| Uses technology to improve the courts | 4.5 |
| Avoids needless personal criticism | 4.7 |
| Decides on the law and facts, not outside pressure | 4.6 |
| Courteous and patient | 4.7 |
| Treats people equally | 4.7 |
| Fair to people without a lawyer | 4.6 |
| Said to keep the judge | 96.6% |
| Lawyers responding | 145 |
Source: Iowa State Bar Association Judicial Performance Review: 2026 (page 42).
Appeals from this judge’s cases
1 appeal on record; 0 reversed or vacated at least in part.4
- Criminal appeal No. 24-1254AI summary A visitor to a house was charged with drug possession after police searched a backpack he had carried into the building. The defendant argued that he should not be allowed to challenge the search because he had disclaimed ownership of the bag. The court affirm…