Richard D. Wells at a glance
- Current role
- Magistrate
- Jurisdiction
- Iowa · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Richard D. Wells
Magistrate · Iowa Judicial District 7 District Court
Biography
Professional career
- Richard Dean Wells — who held the role of a Clinton County, Michigan District Judge from 1993 until his retirement in 2014
- 1982–1986: Early career: Assistant County Attorney in Scott County
- He has also volunteered as a high school mock trial coach/judge and as an attorney for the Scott County Pro Bono Program
Education
- bachelor's — the University of Iowa in 1978
Additional information
- Private practice: Since 1986, while maintaining his judicial role
- He passed away on January 28, 2018
- Professional memberships: Scott County Bar Association (President 1997–98), Iowa State Bar Association, Iowa Association for Justice
- He was born in 1941, earned a Pre‐Law degree from Michigan State University (1963) and a J.D. from Wayne State University (1966), and was known for his service on the Michigan Bar Association board for 50 years.
- If you are seeking the Iowa judge, the above profile applies.
- If you mean the Michigan judge, the obituary and career details in sources provide that information
- Wells has held the role of president of the Community Resources Corporation, Bettendorf Community Schools Foundation, and First Presbyterian Church Foundation.
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 7 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 August 6, 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 ↗