Michael J. Schilling at a glance
- Current role
- Senior Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Iowa · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Michael J. Schilling
Senior Judge · Iowa Judicial District 8 District Court
Biography
Professional career
- Senior District Court Judge for Sub‐District 8B of Iowa’s Eighth Judicial District, appointed in 2006 and serving until his retirement on September 12, 2023
- Drug court judge for several counties for about nine years, ending in 2018
- Schilling held the role of Senior Judge, District 8B, covering Des Moines, Henry, Lee, and Louisa counties
Education
- University of Iowa College of Law — J.D. (1976)
Additional information
- The District 8B Judicial Nominating Commission began the process to appoint his successor, with applications accepted from July 14–31, 2023
- He was appointed to the bench in 2006 and retained in 2014.
- 2000–2006: Attorney, Cahill and Schilling He also held the role of a VISTA volunteer lawyer on three Native American reservations in Nebraska
- 1990–2000: Attorney, Dieterich and Schilling
- Studies at University of Iowa (1973).
- Current service classified as Senior Judge.
- Undergraduate degree with honors; law degree with distinction.
- Since his appointment, Schilling has served on the Iowa Supreme Court’s Civil Justice Reform Task Force and the Eighth Judicial District’s Mediation Committee.
- He is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association, Nebraska State Bar Association, Des Moines County Bar Association, American Judicature Society, and the Iowa Judges Association
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 8 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 ↗District 8 Judges and Magistrates | Iowa Judicial Branch
Biography source · HTML · Source checked October 5, 2026
View District 8 Judges and Magistrates | Iowa Judicial Branch ↗