Tamra J. Roberts
Bench appointment · 2019Appointed as a district judge in 2019 after serving as a Cedar County magistrate from 2014 to 2019. Earlier work included private practice, the Iowa Attorney General’s office and service as Cedar County Attorney. Official biography ↗
Attorney retention support92.2%
90 reported respondents · not a public election pollFour common performance ratings
1 very poor · 2 deficient · 3 satisfactory · 4 good · 5 excellent
Legal knowledge
4.3 out of 5 Temperament and demeanor
4.4 out of 5 Written reasoning
4.4 out of 5 Timely rulings
4.4 out of 5 Reading this record: Reported item averages range from 4.3 to 4.5. Legal knowledge is 4.3; courtroom management, technology and several treatment-of-litigants measures are 4.5.
All 14 survey ratings and scales
Performance: 1 very poor, 2 deficient, 3 satisfactory, 4 good, 5 excellent. Item labels below are shortened; the source supplies the complete wording.
Performance averages · 1–5| Legal knowledge | 4.3 |
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| Understanding factual issues | 4.4 |
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| Proceedings start on time | 4.4 |
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| Attention to arguments and testimony | 4.4 |
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| Courtroom management | 4.5 |
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| Temperament and demeanor | 4.4 |
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| Written reasoning | 4.4 |
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| Timely rulings | 4.4 |
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| Use of technology | 4.5 |
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Conduct statements use a separate agreement scale: 1 strongly disagree, 2 disagree, 3 neither, 4 agree, 5 strongly agree. A score of 3 here is not the “satisfactory” performance rating.
Agreement with conduct statements · 1–5| Restraint in personal comments | 4.4 |
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| Decisions free of outside influence | 4.4 |
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| Courtesy and patience | 4.5 |
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| Equal treatment and awareness of bias | 4.5 |
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| Fair treatment of self-represented litigants | 4.5 |
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Full survey page 47 ↗ · Report biography ↗ · Public conduct records ↗
Jeffrey McDaniel
Bench appointment · 2024Appointed as a district judge in 2024 after private practice in the Quad Cities. He earned his law degree from the University of Iowa in 1993. The judicial biography uses Jeffrey C. McDaniel; this heading preserves the ballot’s shorter name. Official biography ↗
Attorney retention support75.6%
78 reported respondents · not a public election pollFour common performance ratings
1 very poor · 2 deficient · 3 satisfactory · 4 good · 5 excellent
Legal knowledge
3.9 out of 5 Temperament and demeanor
4.2 out of 5 Written reasoning
3.9 out of 5 Timely rulings
3.8 out of 5 Reading this record: Reported item averages range from 3.8 to 4.4. Timely rulings is the lowest item at 3.8; equal treatment and awareness of bias is 4.4. His 2024 appointment explains a first retention vote under the regular schedule.
All 14 survey ratings and scales
Performance: 1 very poor, 2 deficient, 3 satisfactory, 4 good, 5 excellent. Item labels below are shortened; the source supplies the complete wording.
Performance averages · 1–5| Legal knowledge | 3.9 |
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| Understanding factual issues | 3.9 |
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| Proceedings start on time | 4.3 |
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| Attention to arguments and testimony | 4.2 |
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| Courtroom management | 3.9 |
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| Temperament and demeanor | 4.2 |
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| Written reasoning | 3.9 |
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| Timely rulings | 3.8 |
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| Use of technology | 4.1 |
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Conduct statements use a separate agreement scale: 1 strongly disagree, 2 disagree, 3 neither, 4 agree, 5 strongly agree. A score of 3 here is not the “satisfactory” performance rating.
Agreement with conduct statements · 1–5| Restraint in personal comments | 4.3 |
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| Decisions free of outside influence | 4.0 |
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| Courtesy and patience | 4.3 |
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| Equal treatment and awareness of bias | 4.4 |
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| Fair treatment of self-represented litigants | 4.2 |
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Full survey page 46 ↗ · Report biography ↗ · Public conduct records ↗
Elizabeth O'Donnell
Bench appointment · 2024Appointed as a district judge in 2024. Earlier work included private practice and prosecution in Black Hawk and Scott counties. The official biography includes the middle initial M.; the heading follows the ballot. Official biography ↗
Attorney retention support92.2%
64 reported respondents · not a public election pollFour common performance ratings
1 very poor · 2 deficient · 3 satisfactory · 4 good · 5 excellent
Legal knowledge
4.3 out of 5 Temperament and demeanor
4.6 out of 5 Written reasoning
4.5 out of 5 Timely rulings
4.5 out of 5 Reading this record: Reported item averages range from 4.3 to 4.7. Legal knowledge is 4.3; restraint in personal comments and equal treatment/bias awareness are 4.7. A 2024 appointment normally reaches its first retention vote in 2026.
All 14 survey ratings and scales
Performance: 1 very poor, 2 deficient, 3 satisfactory, 4 good, 5 excellent. Item labels below are shortened; the source supplies the complete wording.
Performance averages · 1–5| Legal knowledge | 4.3 |
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| Understanding factual issues | 4.4 |
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| Proceedings start on time | 4.4 |
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| Attention to arguments and testimony | 4.5 |
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| Courtroom management | 4.5 |
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| Temperament and demeanor | 4.6 |
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| Written reasoning | 4.5 |
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| Timely rulings | 4.5 |
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| Use of technology | 4.6 |
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Conduct statements use a separate agreement scale: 1 strongly disagree, 2 disagree, 3 neither, 4 agree, 5 strongly agree. A score of 3 here is not the “satisfactory” performance rating.
Agreement with conduct statements · 1–5| Restraint in personal comments | 4.7 |
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| Decisions free of outside influence | 4.6 |
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| Courtesy and patience | 4.6 |
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| Equal treatment and awareness of bias | 4.7 |
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| Fair treatment of self-represented litigants | 4.5 |
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Full survey page 47 ↗ · Report biography ↗ · Public conduct records ↗
Joel William Barrows
Bench appointment · 2012Appointed as a district judge in 2012. His earlier work included child-support recovery, county prosecution and service as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Des Moines and Davenport. Official biography ↗
Attorney retention support93.9%
98 reported respondents · not a public election pollFour common performance ratings
1 very poor · 2 deficient · 3 satisfactory · 4 good · 5 excellent
Legal knowledge
4.4 out of 5 Temperament and demeanor
4.4 out of 5 Written reasoning
4.3 out of 5 Timely rulings
4.3 out of 5 Reading this record: Reported item averages range from 4.2 to 4.6. Technology is 4.2; equal treatment and awareness of bias is 4.6. Both the overall retention response and the individual categories are shown so one does not substitute for the other.
All 14 survey ratings and scales
Performance: 1 very poor, 2 deficient, 3 satisfactory, 4 good, 5 excellent. Item labels below are shortened; the source supplies the complete wording.
Performance averages · 1–5| Legal knowledge | 4.4 |
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| Understanding factual issues | 4.4 |
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| Proceedings start on time | 4.3 |
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| Attention to arguments and testimony | 4.3 |
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| Courtroom management | 4.4 |
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| Temperament and demeanor | 4.4 |
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| Written reasoning | 4.3 |
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| Timely rulings | 4.3 |
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| Use of technology | 4.2 |
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Conduct statements use a separate agreement scale: 1 strongly disagree, 2 disagree, 3 neither, 4 agree, 5 strongly agree. A score of 3 here is not the “satisfactory” performance rating.
Agreement with conduct statements · 1–5| Restraint in personal comments | 4.5 |
|---|
| Decisions free of outside influence | 4.5 |
|---|
| Courtesy and patience | 4.5 |
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| Equal treatment and awareness of bias | 4.6 |
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| Fair treatment of self-represented litigants | 4.4 |
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Full survey page 46 ↗ · Report biography ↗ · Public conduct records ↗
Henry William Latham II
Bench appointment · 2013Appointed as a district judge in 2013 and named District 7 chief judge in 2023. He previously maintained a general law practice and earned his law degree at the University of Iowa. Official biography ↗
Attorney retention support86.7%
113 reported respondents · not a public election pollFour common performance ratings
1 very poor · 2 deficient · 3 satisfactory · 4 good · 5 excellent
Legal knowledge
4.3 out of 5 Temperament and demeanor
4.2 out of 5 Written reasoning
4.3 out of 5 Timely rulings
4.3 out of 5 Reading this record: Reported item averages range from 4.2 to 4.4. Temperament is 4.2; punctuality, attention, courtroom management and several fairness measures are 4.4.
All 14 survey ratings and scales
Performance: 1 very poor, 2 deficient, 3 satisfactory, 4 good, 5 excellent. Item labels below are shortened; the source supplies the complete wording.
Performance averages · 1–5| Legal knowledge | 4.3 |
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| Understanding factual issues | 4.3 |
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| Proceedings start on time | 4.4 |
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| Attention to arguments and testimony | 4.4 |
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| Courtroom management | 4.4 |
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| Temperament and demeanor | 4.2 |
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| Written reasoning | 4.3 |
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| Timely rulings | 4.3 |
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| Use of technology | 4.3 |
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Conduct statements use a separate agreement scale: 1 strongly disagree, 2 disagree, 3 neither, 4 agree, 5 strongly agree. A score of 3 here is not the “satisfactory” performance rating.
Agreement with conduct statements · 1–5| Restraint in personal comments | 4.3 |
|---|
| Decisions free of outside influence | 4.4 |
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| Courtesy and patience | 4.3 |
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| Equal treatment and awareness of bias | 4.4 |
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| Fair treatment of self-represented litigants | 4.4 |
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Full survey page 46 ↗ · Report biography ↗ · Public conduct records ↗
Mark Ray Lawson
Bench appointment · 2013Appointed as a district judge in 2013 after private practice in Maquoketa (1979–2013) and service as a Jackson County magistrate (2010–2013). His official biography also lists conservation-board and community-foundation service. Official biography ↗
Attorney retention support58.6%
99 reported respondents · not a public election pollFour common performance ratings
1 very poor · 2 deficient · 3 satisfactory · 4 good · 5 excellent
Legal knowledge
3.5 out of 5 Temperament and demeanor
2.9 out of 5 Written reasoning
3.5 out of 5 Timely rulings
3.8 out of 5 Reading this record: Reported item averages range from 2.9 to 3.9. Temperament is 2.9 on the performance scale; courtesy/patience is 3.0 on a separate agreement scale. These warrant closer reading of the report, but are survey assessments rather than disciplinary findings.
All 14 survey ratings and scales
Performance: 1 very poor, 2 deficient, 3 satisfactory, 4 good, 5 excellent. Item labels below are shortened; the source supplies the complete wording.
Performance averages · 1–5| Legal knowledge | 3.5 |
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| Understanding factual issues | 3.4 |
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| Proceedings start on time | 3.9 |
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| Attention to arguments and testimony | 3.5 |
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| Courtroom management | 3.7 |
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| Temperament and demeanor | 2.9 |
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| Written reasoning | 3.5 |
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| Timely rulings | 3.8 |
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| Use of technology | 3.5 |
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Conduct statements use a separate agreement scale: 1 strongly disagree, 2 disagree, 3 neither, 4 agree, 5 strongly agree. A score of 3 here is not the “satisfactory” performance rating.
Agreement with conduct statements · 1–5| Restraint in personal comments | 3.2 |
|---|
| Decisions free of outside influence | 3.4 |
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| Courtesy and patience | 3.0 |
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| Equal treatment and awareness of bias | 3.6 |
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| Fair treatment of self-represented litigants | 3.7 |
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Full survey page 46 ↗ · Report biography ↗ · Public conduct records ↗
Patrick A. McElyea
Bench appointment · 2017Appointed as a district judge in 2017. Earlier experience includes work as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney and as an assistant county attorney in Iowa, Wapello and Scott counties. Official biography ↗
Attorney retention support96.0%
100 reported respondents · not a public election pollFour common performance ratings
1 very poor · 2 deficient · 3 satisfactory · 4 good · 5 excellent
Legal knowledge
4.5 out of 5 Temperament and demeanor
4.7 out of 5 Written reasoning
4.5 out of 5 Timely rulings
4.5 out of 5 Reading this record: Reported item averages range from 4.5 to 4.7. Attention, temperament, restraint in personal comments, courtesy/patience and equal treatment/bias awareness are 4.7.
All 14 survey ratings and scales
Performance: 1 very poor, 2 deficient, 3 satisfactory, 4 good, 5 excellent. Item labels below are shortened; the source supplies the complete wording.
Performance averages · 1–5| Legal knowledge | 4.5 |
|---|
| Understanding factual issues | 4.5 |
|---|
| Proceedings start on time | 4.5 |
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| Attention to arguments and testimony | 4.7 |
|---|
| Courtroom management | 4.6 |
|---|
| Temperament and demeanor | 4.7 |
|---|
| Written reasoning | 4.5 |
|---|
| Timely rulings | 4.5 |
|---|
| Use of technology | 4.6 |
|---|
Conduct statements use a separate agreement scale: 1 strongly disagree, 2 disagree, 3 neither, 4 agree, 5 strongly agree. A score of 3 here is not the “satisfactory” performance rating.
Agreement with conduct statements · 1–5| Restraint in personal comments | 4.7 |
|---|
| Decisions free of outside influence | 4.6 |
|---|
| Courtesy and patience | 4.7 |
|---|
| Equal treatment and awareness of bias | 4.7 |
|---|
| Fair treatment of self-represented litigants | 4.6 |
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Full survey page 47 ↗ · Report biography ↗ · Public conduct records ↗