---
title: "Monica Zrinyi Ackley | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/monica-zrinyi-ackley-magistrate-iowa-judicial-district-1-district-court-ia"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-07-26"
---

# Monica Zrinyi Ackley

Iowa Judicial District 1 District Court · Magistrate

## Profile

- Court: Iowa Judicial District 1 District Court
- State: Iowa
- Role: Magistrate
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-26

## 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/iowa-courts/district-court/judicial-district-1/judges-and-magistrates-district-1)
- [Official roster](https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/district-court/judicial-district-1/judges-and-magistrates-district-1)
- [Iowa Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/district-court/judicial-district-1/judges-and-magistrates-district-1)
- [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

- District Court Judge for District 1A of the Iowa 1st Judicial District, serving since her 2003 appointment to the bench

### Education


### Additional information

- The Iowa Judicial Branch maintains her official profile, and the Iowa Judicial Nominating Commission lists her as the current chair for District 1A
- Prior to judicial service, she served as a law clerk and research assistant, then in private practice
- Her judicial service is conducted under Iowa’s merit selection with retention system.
- She also serves as Chair of the District 1A Judicial Nominating Commission
- Judge Ackley presides over cases in District 1A, which covers Dubuque County and other counties in the 1st Judicial District, including Allamakee, Black Hawk, Buchanan, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Fayette, Grundy, Howard, and Winneshiek.
- Judge Ackley is a member of the Dubuque County Bar Association, Iowa State Bar Association, and State Bar of California



## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure, official September 30, 2026 collection](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-0095feb1b1da55bd07a559b3) — 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](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ACO/CourtRulesChapter/09-30-2026.1.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.
