--- title: "Matthew McDermott | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/matthew-mcdermott-justice-iowa-supreme-court-ia" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-22" --- # Matthew McDermott 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. ## Biography ### Professional career - Matthew Charles McDermott is an Associate Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court, appointed in April 2020 and serving until December 31, 2030 - Governor Kim Reynolds appointed McDermott to the Iowa Supreme Court in April 2020 to replace Justice David Wiggins - He also worked as a summer associate at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York City and volunteered at the East Bay Community Law Center - He currently chairs the Iowa Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission Iowa Judicial Branch ### Education ### Additional information - He was retained by voters in the November 8, 2022 retention election with 67.5% approval. - Born November 22, 1977 in Carroll, Iowa, McDermott earned a B.A. in economics and political science from the University of Iowa in 2000, and a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 2003, where he held the role of editor of the California Law Review. - Date of birth: 1977-11-22 ## 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) - [Wikidata: Matthew McDermott](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q91679427) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/matthew-mcdermott-justice-iowa-supreme-court-ia", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/matthew-mcdermott-justice-iowa-supreme-court-ia", "name": "Matthew McDermott | KnowJudges", "description": "Matthew McDermott, 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/matthew-mcdermott-justice-iowa-supreme-court-ia#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/matthew-mcdermott-justice-iowa-supreme-court-ia#judge", "name": "Matthew McDermott", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/matthew-mcdermott-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" ], "birthDate": "1977-11-22" }, { "@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": "Matthew McDermott", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/matthew-mcdermott-justice-iowa-supreme-court-ia" } ] } ] } ``` ## 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.