--- title: "Christopher McDonald | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/christopher-mcdonald-justice-iowa-supreme-court-ia" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-22" --- # Christopher McDonald Supreme Court of Iowa · Justice ## Profile - Court: Supreme Court of Iowa - State: Iowa - Role: Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-08-22 ## 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/static/media/cms/FY_2025_Iowa_Judicial_Branch_Annual_6E76A5FB94E95.pdf) - [Official roster](https://www.iowacourts.gov/static/media/cms/FY_2025_Iowa_Judicial_Branch_Annual_6E76A5FB94E95.pdf) - [Iowa Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.iowacourts.gov/static/media/cms/FY_2025_Iowa_Judicial_Branch_Annual_6E76A5FB94E95.pdf) - [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/christopher-mcdonald-justice-iowa-supreme-court-ia", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/christopher-mcdonald-justice-iowa-supreme-court-ia", "name": "Christopher McDonald | KnowJudges", "description": "Christopher McDonald, Supreme Court of Iowa. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-22", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/christopher-mcdonald-justice-iowa-supreme-court-ia#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/christopher-mcdonald-justice-iowa-supreme-court-ia#judge", "name": "Christopher McDonald", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/christopher-mcdonald-justice-iowa-supreme-court-ia", "jobTitle": "Justice", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Supreme Court of Iowa" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.iowacourts.gov/static/media/cms/FY_2025_Iowa_Judicial_Branch_Annual_6E76A5FB94E95.pdf" ] }, { "@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": "Christopher McDonald", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/christopher-mcdonald-justice-iowa-supreme-court-ia" } ] } ] } ``` ## Biography ### Professional career - Christopher Lee McDonald is an American judge and the Associate Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court, appointed in 2019 and currently serving until December 31, 2028 - 2019–present: Associate Justice, Iowa Supreme Court, appointed by Governor Kim Reynolds after Justice Daryl Hecht’s retirement - 2013–2019: Judge, Iowa Court of Appeals, appointed by Governor Terry Branstad - 2012–2013: Trial judge, Iowa Fifth Judicial District ### Education ### Additional information - He attended Abraham Lincoln High School, obtained a B.A. from Grand View University in 1997, and a J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2001, graduating with highest distinction, as valedictorian, and earning election to the Order of the Coif - Born September 17, 1974 in Bangkok, Thailand, to a Vietnamese mother and an American father of Scots-Irish ancestry, McDonald grew up at various U.S. military bases before settling in Des Moines. - After law school, McDonald clerked for Judge David R. Hansen on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. - The first person of color appointed to the Iowa Supreme Court - He then practiced in private law firms in Des Moines (Faegre & Benson, Belin McCormick P.C.) focusing on civil litigation, internal investigations, and employment law. - He later held the role of senior litigation counsel at Aviva - In interviews, McDonald has emphasized that his trial court experience provides valuable context for appellate work, reminding him that cases involve real people with significant issues. - He views oral arguments as a dialogue to clarify legal questions rather than a contest - received the Governor’s Volunteer Award ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Iowa Rules of Appellate Procedure, official September 30, 2026 collection](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-e977ef065ef3b8cfea8fce37) — Iowa Supreme Court and Court of Appeals proceedings only. 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/09-30-2026.6.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.