---
title: "Adria Kester | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/adria-kester-district-court-judge-iowa-judicial-district-2-district-court-ia"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-07-26"
---

# Adria Kester

Iowa Judicial District 2 District Court · District Court Judge

## Profile

- Court: Iowa Judicial District 2 District Court
- State: Iowa
- Role: District Court Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-26

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### recording photography streaming

Scope: statewide

Iowa prohibits broadcasting, recording, photographing, texting, blogging, or tweeting real-time courtroom coverage unless the presiding judicial officer permits it in advance.

Evidence excerpt: prohibited unless the presiding judicial officer expressly permits coverage in advance

[Iowa Judicial Branch: Expanded News Media Coverage](https://www.iowacourts.gov/newsroom/expanded-news-media-coverage)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### presiding judge discretion

Scope: statewide

Iowa's expanded news media coverage framework requires approval, but the judge should allow coverage unless it would materially interfere with protected interests or the proceeding.

Evidence excerpt: The judge shall allow expanded news media coverage unless the judge concludes

[Iowa Judicial Branch: Expanded News Media Coverage](https://www.iowacourts.gov/newsroom/expanded-news-media-coverage)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### electronic devices for media

Scope: statewide

Iowa Chapter 25 requires approval before using electronic devices for photography, video recording, audio recording, or streaming video in a courtroom.

Evidence excerpt: Electronic devices for photography, video recording, audio recording, or streaming video may not be used

[Chapter 25 Rules for Expanded News Media Coverage](https://www.iowacourts.gov/static/media/cms/25_2_44097B6A827DC.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/district-court/judicial-district-2/judges-and-magistrates)
- [Official roster](https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/district-court/judicial-district-2/judges-and-magistrates)
- [Iowa Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/district-court/judicial-district-2/judges-and-magistrates)
- [Iowa Judicial Branch: Expanded News Media Coverage](https://www.iowacourts.gov/newsroom/expanded-news-media-coverage)
- [Chapter 25 Rules for Expanded News Media Coverage](https://www.iowacourts.gov/static/media/cms/25_2_44097B6A827DC.pdf)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/adria-kester-district-court-judge-iowa-judicial-district-2-district-court-ia",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/adria-kester-district-court-judge-iowa-judicial-district-2-district-court-ia",
      "name": "Adria Kester | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Adria Kester, Iowa Judicial District 2 District Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-07-26",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/adria-kester-district-court-judge-iowa-judicial-district-2-district-court-ia#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/adria-kester-district-court-judge-iowa-judicial-district-2-district-court-ia#judge",
      "name": "Adria Kester",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/adria-kester-district-court-judge-iowa-judicial-district-2-district-court-ia",
      "jobTitle": "District Court Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Iowa Judicial District 2 District Court"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/district-court/judicial-district-2/judges-and-magistrates"
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Iowa",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/iowa"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Adria Kester",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/adria-kester-district-court-judge-iowa-judicial-district-2-district-court-ia"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```

## Biography

### Professional career

- Adria Kester, who was appointed as a district judge in 2017 and held the role of chief judge of Iowa’s Second Judicial District until her resignation from that role in late 2025, is still officially a judge
- Despite the legal and professional challenges, Kester has not been removed from the bench and remains a district judge in the Second Judicial District, which covers 22 counties in northern and central Iowa

### Education


### Additional information

- She resigned as chief judge following a drunk driving arrest in November 2025, which led to a guilty plea and a short jail sentence, probation, and fines.
- After stepping down from the chief judge position, Judge Gregg Rosenbladt and later Judge Amy Moore were appointed to serve as chief judges of the district Currently, Kester is suspended with pay while the Iowa Judicial Qualifications Commission conducts an inquiry into her conduct.
- Her suspension is part of the standard oversight process for judges facing disciplinary review in Iowa.



## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure, official September 30, 2026 collection](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-0095feb1b1da55bd07a559b3) — Civil proceedings in Iowa District Courts; specialized proceedings and statutory exceptions remain applicable. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ACO/CourtRulesChapter/09-30-2026.1.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.
