Craig M. Dreismeier at a glance
- Current role
- Chief Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Iowa · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Craig M. Dreismeier
Chief Judge · Iowa Judicial District 4 District Court
Biography
Professional career
- Chief Judge, Fourth Judicial District, Iowa since July 2, 2024, following the retirement of Chief Judge Jeffrey Larson
- Selected Chief Judge of the Fourth Judicial District July 2, 2024
- Craig M. Dreismeier is the Chief Judge of Iowa’s Fourth Judicial District, appointed in 2018 and elevated to Chief Judge in 2024, with a career spanning private practice, public service, and judicial leadership
- Appointed District Court Judge October 19, 2018
- District Associate Judge from December 30, 2010, until his appointment
- Worked as Assistant Pottawattamie County Attorney (1995-1996)
Education
- Creighton University School of Law — J.D. (1992)
- Studies at University of Nebraska-Omaha (1989).
Additional information
- Worked in private practice in southwest Iowa, 1992-2010.
- Serves as a District Court Judge for Judicial District 4, which covers parts of southwest Iowa, including Pottawattamie, Mills, and surrounding counties
- Known for applying statutory language and precedent in appellate decisions
- Docket Audit scores his recent opinions at a 91% lifetime “PASS” rating for fidelity to the rule of law
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 4 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 ↗Craig M. Dreismeier | Iowa Judicial Branch
Biography source · HTML · Source checked October 5, 2026
View Craig M. Dreismeier | Iowa Judicial Branch ↗