Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen has appointed District Court Judge Amy Moore as chief judge of the Second Judicial District of Iowa, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Judge Moore will succeed Chief Judge Gregg Rosenbladt, whose term concludes Dec. 31. Judge Rosenbladt will continue serving the district as a district court judge and will take on the role of assistant chief judge.
Chief Justice Christensen praised Judge Moore’s diverse professional background, collaborative leadership style, and strong reputation among her colleagues. She noted that Judge Moore brings “a rich background of life experiences,” including having graduated from culinary school and running her own pastry shop before entering the legal profession. Christensen emphasized that Judge Moore is widely regarded as an excellent listener, a focused and empathetic decision-maker, and a respected judicial colleague—qualities she described as essential for a chief judge.
Judge Moore has served on the district court since her appointment in April 2019. She is a 1999 graduate of Iowa State University and earned her law degree from Creighton University School of Law in 2002. She later completed a L’Art de la Pâtisserie certificate from the French Pastry School in Chicago. Before joining the bench, she worked as a trial attorney with the Federal Defenders of Eastern Washington and Idaho, practiced privately, and served as a Story County magistrate. She is an active member of The Iowa State Bar Association, the Story County Bar Association, and the Iowa Judges Association.
In accepting the appointment, Judge Moore expressed gratitude for the trust placed in her by the Supreme Court and reaffirmed her commitment to service. She stated that she looks forward to providing “steady leadership grounded in integrity and transparency” and working collaboratively with court staff, judicial officers, and community partners to support fair and accessible courts while continuing efforts to improve access to justice.
As chief judge, Judge Moore will oversee judicial officers and court employees across the Second Judicial District, manage administrative and judicial operations, set court schedules and locations, designate presiding judges, and serve on the judicial council, which advises the supreme court on trial court administration. She will continue to preside over cases while carrying out these administrative responsibilities.
The Second Judicial District is Iowa’s largest by geographic area and includes 22 counties: Boone, Bremer, Butler, Calhoun, Carroll, Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Franklin, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Humboldt, Marshall, Mitchell, Pocahontas, Sac, Story, Webster, Winnebago, Worth, and Wright. The district is staffed by 17 district court judges, 12 district associate judges, five senior judges, and 29 part-time magistrates, supported by 237 employees and an operating budget of approximately $25.5 million for the current fiscal year. More than 99,000 cases were initiated in the district in 2024.
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