--- title: "Susan L. Christensen | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/susan-christensen-chief-justice-iowa-supreme-court-ia" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-22" --- # Susan L. Christensen Supreme Court of Iowa · Chief Justice ## Profile - Court: Supreme Court of Iowa - State: Iowa - Role: Chief Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-08-22 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Susan Larson Christensen is the Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court, appointed in 2018 and serving since February 2020 - 24, 2020 after the death of Chief Justice Mark Cady; re‐elected in 2025) - District Judge, Iowa Fourth Judicial District (2015–2018) - Her father, Jerry L. Larson, was a long‐serving Iowa Supreme Court justice (1978–2008), and her brother Jeffrey Larson is also a judge in the Iowa Fourth Judicial District - Second woman to serve as Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court - She also held the role of an assistant county attorney in Shelby, Harrison, and Crawford counties ### Education - J.D. cum laude from Creighton University School of Law in 1991 - Judson College ### Additional information - 1, 2018 by Governor Kim Reynolds) - Before joining the judiciary, she practiced family law in Harlan for 16 years at Larson, Childs, Hall & Christensen (1991–2003) and as a sole practitioner (2003–2007). - Born April 27, 1962, in Harlan, Iowa. - Date of birth: 1962-04-27 - Continues to balance judicial duties with family life in her hometown - She is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association, Southwest Iowa Bar Association, and Shelby County Bar Association - Birth place: Harlan ## 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/static/media/cms/FY_2025_Iowa_Judicial_Branch_Annual_6E76A5FB94E95.pdf) - [Official roster](https://www.iowacourts.gov/static/media/cms/FY_2025_Iowa_Judicial_Branch_Annual_6E76A5FB94E95.pdf) - [Iowa Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.iowacourts.gov/static/media/cms/FY_2025_Iowa_Judicial_Branch_Annual_6E76A5FB94E95.pdf) - [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) - [Wikidata: Susan Christensen](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56826703) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/susan-christensen-chief-justice-iowa-supreme-court-ia", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/susan-christensen-chief-justice-iowa-supreme-court-ia", "name": "Susan L. 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