United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
About This Court
Located in the heart of Iowa, this federal district court serves the southern half of the state and is one of two federal judicial districts in Iowa, alongside the Northern District of Iowa. The court sits within the Eighth Circuit and handles the full range of federal civil and criminal matters arising from its geographic area, which includes major population centers such as Des Moines, the state capital and largest city in Iowa.
The Southern District of Iowa encompasses a diverse caseload reflecting the agricultural, commercial, and governmental character of the region. The presence of state and federal government offices in Des Moines contributes to a steady volume of administrative law, civil rights, and federal regulatory matters. The court also handles significant criminal dockets consistent with federal law enforcement priorities in the Midwest.
The court operates under the rules and procedures of the Eighth Circuit and maintains clerk's office operations centrally in Des Moines. Practitioners before the court are expected to comply with the court's local rules, which govern electronic filing, motion practice, and other procedural matters specific to the district.
Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Iowa.
Caseload
The court handles a mix of federal criminal matters, civil rights claims, and cases involving agricultural and commercial disputes reflective of Iowa's economy. Federal regulatory and administrative law cases are also common given Des Moines's role as the state capital.
Bar Admission
Attorneys must be admitted to the bar of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa to practice before the court, which generally requires membership in good standing with the Iowa State Bar or another state bar and compliance with the court's local admission rules.
Clerk's Office
123 East Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 284-6248
Active Judges 5
| Name | Appointed By | Confirmed | Law School |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rebecca Ebinger | Barack Obama | 2016 | Yale Law School |
| James Gritzner | George W. Bush | 2002 | Drake University Law School |
| Stephen Locher | Joseph R. Biden | 2022 | Harvard Law School |
| Ronald Longstaff | George H.W. Bush | 1991 | University of Iowa College of Law |
| Stephanie Rose | Barack Obama | 2012 | University of Iowa College of Law |
Local Rules
63 local rules extracted from this court's published rules. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.
Civil Rules 37
Criminal Rules 22
General Rules 2
Appellate Rules 1
| Rule | Title |
|---|---|
| LR 8001 | BANKRUPTCY APPEALS |