Richelle Mahaffey at a glance
- Current role
- District Associate Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Iowa · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Richelle Mahaffey
District Associate Judge · Iowa Judicial District 8 District Court
Biography
Professional career
- District Associate Judge in Iowa Judicial District 8A, appointed in 2023 by Governor Kim Reynolds, with a background in public defense and juvenile justice advocacy
- District Associate Judge for Judicial Election District 8A, which includes Appanoose, Davis, Jefferson, Keokuk, Mahaska, Monroe, Poweshiek, Wapello, Washington, and Van Buren counties
Education
- B.A. in Psychology from Luther College in 2013 and her J.D. from Drake University Law School in 2016
Additional information
- Appointed in April 2023 to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Associate Judge William Owens
- Mahaffey’s approach as a judge centers on compassion, respect, and equity.
- Her profile is listed on the Iowa Judicial Branch website for District 8, and her appointment was announced in a Governor Kim Reynolds press release
- She believes the judge’s tone and fairness in juvenile cases set the standard for the courtroom environment
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 ↗