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title: "David May | KnowJudges"
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# David May

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)

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## 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.



## 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.