Northwest Iowa Judges to Seek Retention on November 3
The Iowa State Bar Association has released performance survey results for judges appearing on the upcoming ballot.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Criminal Justice
Live Poll
Do you support the retention of judges based on professional bar association performance evaluations?
Twelve judges from Northwest Iowa and three Iowa Court of Appeals judges will appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot for retention. Local lawyers recently provided performance feedback through a survey to assist voters in making informed decisions.
Why it matters
The survey aims to provide voters with essential information regarding judicial performance before they cast their ballots. These evaluations offer insight into a judge's knowledge of the law, the quality of their written opinions, and their impartiality.
Twelve Northwest Iowa judges and three Iowa Court of Appeals judges received majority support in the latest survey. Specific support levels range from 76.1% for District Associate Judge Mark Cord to 100% for District Associate Judge Daniel Vakulskas.
The players
Iowa State Bar Association
This professional organization for lawyers in the state has conducted judicial performance reviews every two years since 1962.
Daniel Vakulskas
He is a District Associate Judge who received 100% support from survey respondents.
Mark Cord
He is a District Associate Judge who received 76.1% support in the bar association survey.
The details
Lawyers evaluated each judge on criteria including legal knowledge, written opinion quality, and the absence of outside influence. This performance review process has been utilized to provide transparency in judicial retention since 1962.
Timeline
1962: Iowa adopted its merit system for retaining judges.
November 3, 2026: Judges appear on the ballot for retention.
Legal Context
These retention elections are governed by the Iowa merit system for judicial retention, which has defined the state's judicial selection process since 1962. This system ensures that voters weigh in on judicial terms periodically based on performance standards.
Voters across Iowa will use these survey results to determine which judges to retain for future terms on the bench. The ballot measures impact the leadership of the 3rd Judicial District and the statewide Court of Appeals.
The takeaway
Voters can utilize the bar association survey to review judicial performance metrics before heading to the polls. Checking these evaluations is a primary way to participate in the local merit-based judicial system.
Further reading
For additional context on the state's legal proceedings, visit Criminal Justice.
More information
View the complete Iowa judicial performance evaluation results on the official bar association portal.
Live Poll
Do you support the retention of judges based on professional bar association performance evaluations?
