Kristal L. Phillips at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Iowa · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Kristal L. Phillips
Biography
Professional career
- Candidate for re-election in the 2022 Iowa General Election for the District 3B Associate Judge position.
- Sworn in on December 3, 2021, by Chief Judge Patrick H. Tott at the Cherokee County Courthouse
- Associate Judge for Iowa’s 3rd Judicial District, appointed in October 2021, with a background in public service, private practice, and legal education from the University of South Dakota
- District Associate Judge – District 3B in the Iowa Judicial Branch
Education
- B.A in Criminal Justice — University of South Dakota — 1996 — cum laude
Additional information
- In this role, she hears serious and aggravated misdemeanor cases, small claims, hospital claims, juvenile cases, and civil suits for judgments up to $10,000
- Her judicial service follows a career in public prosecution and private legal practice, and she is recognized for her work in both community service and courtroom adjudication
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 3 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 ↗