Brook K. Jacobsen at a glance
- Current role
- District Court Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Iowa · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Brook K. Jacobsen
District Court Judge · Iowa Judicial District 1 District Court
Biography
Professional career
- District Court Judge for Iowa Judicial District 1B, appointed in 2026 by Governor Kim Reynolds to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Kellyann Lekar
- Governor Kim Reynolds appointed Jacobsen in June 2026 after a judicial nominating commission process, moving him from his role as District Associate Judge in the same district to the full district court bench
- 2017–2026 (District Associate Judge)
- Black Hawk County Attorney’s Office, 2004–2017 (Assistant County Attorney)
- Jacobsen’s appointment ensures continuity in the district’s judicial leadership, as he is already familiar with the region’s courts, attorneys, and caseload through his associate judge role
Education
- University of Minnesota Law School — J.D. (1999)
- St. Olaf College (Undergraduate degree).
Additional information
- Private practice, 2002-2004.
- As a district judge, he presides over felony criminal cases, major civil lawsuits, family law disputes, juvenile matters, probate issues, and other proceedings
- District Court bench for Judicial District 1B, which covers Black Hawk, Buchanan, Chickasaw, Fayette, Grundy, and Howard counties in northeast Iowa.
- His work spans a broad range of legal matters, reflecting the comprehensive authority of Iowa’s district judges
- overseeing trials, ruling on motions, sentencing defendants, and managing court proceedings
- He belongs to the Black Hawk County Bar, the Iowa State Bar Association, and the Iowa Judges Association.
- Studies at St. Olaf College.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Recording and broadcasting
Statewide
Iowa prohibits broadcasting, recording, photographing, texting, blogging, or tweeting real-time courtroom coverage unless the presiding judicial officer permits it in advance.
prohibited unless the presiding judicial officer expressly permits coverage in advanceIowa Judicial Branch: Expanded News Media Coverage ↗
Presiding Judge Discretion
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.
The judge shall allow expanded news media coverage unless the judge concludesIowa Judicial Branch: Expanded News Media Coverage ↗
Electronic Devices For Media
Statewide
Iowa Chapter 25 requires approval before using electronic devices for photography, video recording, audio recording, or streaming video in a courtroom.
Electronic devices for photography, video recording, audio recording, or streaming video may not be usedChapter 25 Rules for Expanded News Media Coverage ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure, official September 30, 2026 collection
Iowa Judicial District 1 District Court
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked July 26, 2026.
Iowa Judicial Branch official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Iowa Judicial Branch official judicial roster ↗Iowa Judicial Branch: Expanded News Media Coverage
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Iowa Judicial Branch: Expanded News Media Coverage ↗Chapter 25 Rules for Expanded News Media Coverage
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Chapter 25 Rules for Expanded News Media Coverage ↗District 1 Judges and Magistrates | Iowa Judicial Branch
Biography source · HTML · Source checked October 5, 2026
View District 1 Judges and Magistrates | Iowa Judicial Branch ↗