Susan Cole at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Iowa · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Susan Cole
Biography
Professional career
- No longer Appanoose County Attorney, having taken her judicial role earlier in 2024
- District Associate Judge for Judicial District 8A in Iowa, a position she joined on June 13, 2024 by Governor Kim Reynolds
- In late 2024, Cole was named in a civil lawsuit filed by former Des Moines County prosecutor Ryan McCord, alleging defamation and misconduct related to a 2020 harassment case involving McCord’s ex-fiancée.
- Drake University alumnus, former Appanoose County Attorney, and now Associate Judge for Iowa’s Judicial District 8A
Education
Additional information
- Associate Judge in Iowa’s Judicial District 8A, appointed in 2024, and is currently running for retention in the 2026 election
- Cole is running for retention as District 8A Associate Judge in the November 3, 2026 Iowa retention election.
- Appointed in 2024, is involved in a high-profile civil case from her prior prosecutorial role, and is seeking re-election in 2026
- Previously held the role of Appanoose County Attorney before her judicial appointment
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 ↗