David May at a glance
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David May
Justice · Supreme Court of Iowa
Biography
Professional career
- David Noel May is an American jurist and Associate Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court, appointed in 2022 by Governor Kim Reynolds to replace Justice Brent R. Appel
- 2019–2022: Judge, Iowa Court of Appeals; co-chair of the Iowa Rules of Appellate Procedure Review Task Force
- 2016–2019: Judge, Iowa District Court 5C (south-central Iowa)
Education
Additional information
- 2022–present: Associate Justice, Iowa Supreme Court; term ends Dec.
- June 2024: Joined a 4–3 majority upholding Iowa’s “fetal heartbeat” law, restricting abortions after about six weeks — a decision criticized by reproductive rights groups and cited in his 2024 retention campaign
- J.D. with high honors from Drake University Law School, where he served on the Drake Law Review
- May belongs to the Iowa State Bar Association, Polk County Bar Association, C. Edwin Moore Inn of Court, Lincoln Inn of Court, Iowa Judges Association, and Drake Law School Board of Counselors.
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 Appellate Procedure, official September 30, 2026 collection
Supreme Court of Iowa
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Sources
Identity source checked August 22, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 22, 2026.
Iowa Judicial Branch official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 22, 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 ↗