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title: "Sarah Crane | KnowJudges"
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# Sarah Crane

Iowa Judicial District 5 District Court · District Court Judge

## Profile

- Court: Iowa Judicial District 5 District Court
- State: Iowa
- Role: District Court Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-26

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judicial Appointment: District Court Judge, Fifth Judicial District (2018–present)
- Appointed District Court Judge in June 2018
- Law clerk for the Iowa Supreme Court
- Worked in private practice at Davis Brown Law Firm in Des Moines
- Judge Sarah E. Crane serves in Polk County, Iowa, within the Fifth Judicial District

### Education

- University of Chicago Law School — J.D. (2007)
- Gustavus Adolphus College — B.A. (2004)

### Additional information

- Appointed to Iowa Business Specialty Court in November 2019.
- Joined the bench in June 2018 by Governor Kim Reynolds and later joined the Iowa Business Specialty Court in 2019
- Worked in private practice in Chicago.

## 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-5/judges-and-magistrates)
- [Official roster](https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/district-court/judicial-district-5/judges-and-magistrates)
- [Iowa Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/district-court/judicial-district-5/judges-and-magistrates)
- [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)
- [Sarah Crane | Iowa Judicial Branch](https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/district-court/judicial-district-5/judges-and-magistrates/sarah-crane)

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## 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.