---
title: "Bruce B. Zager | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/bruce-b-zager-4450"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-09"
---

# Bruce B. Zager

Supreme Court of Iowa · Judge

## Profile

- Court: Supreme Court of Iowa
- State: Iowa
- Role: Judge
- Service status: former
- Last verified: 2026-08-22

## Summary

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

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, Supreme Court of Iowa, 2011-present
- He was retained by voters in the 2012 general election Zager served until September 3, 2018, when he retired, becoming the court’s sole senior justice
- Retired American judge who held the role of an Associate Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court from 2011 until his retirement in 2018
- Bruce B. Zager | Senior Judges | Iowa Judicial Branch Iowa Judicial Branch Iowa Judicial Branch Bruce B. Zager Iowa Courts Justice Bruce B. Zager Justice Zager served on the Iowa Supreme Court from 2011 until his retirement in 2018
- From 1981 to 1999, Zager practiced law in Waterloo, Iowa, and held the role of a part-time Black Hawk County Attorney for 12 years
- Zager remains a senior judge of the Iowa Supreme Court

### Education

- University of Iowa — B.A.
- Drake University — J.D.

### Additional information

- In 2011, Governor Terry Branstad appointed Zager to the Iowa Supreme Court following voter removals of three justices in the Varnum v.
- In 1999, he was appointed to the Iowa District Court (District 1B)
- Born December 11, 1952.
- Date of birth: 1952-12-11
- Brien same-sex marriage case.

## 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.courtlistener.com/person/4450/bruce-b-zager/)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4450/bruce-b-zager/)
- [Supreme Court of Iowa current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4450/bruce-b-zager/)
- [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)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4450/bruce-b-zager/)
- [Bruce B. Zager | Senior Judges | Iowa Judicial Branch](https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/supreme-court/justices/senior-judges/bruce-b-zager#:~:text=He%20was%20born%20and%20raised,Iowa%20District%20Court%20in%201999.)
- [Wikidata: Bruce B. Zager](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16880271)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/bruce-b-zager-4450",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/bruce-b-zager-4450",
      "name": "Bruce B. Zager | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Bruce B. Zager, Supreme Court of Iowa. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-10-09",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/bruce-b-zager-4450#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/bruce-b-zager-4450#judge",
      "name": "Bruce B. Zager",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/bruce-b-zager-4450",
      "jobTitle": "Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Supreme Court of Iowa"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4450/bruce-b-zager/"
      ],
      "birthDate": "1952-12-11",
      "alumniOf": [
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "University of Iowa"
        },
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "Drake University"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@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": "Bruce B. Zager",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/bruce-b-zager-4450"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```