District Court Judge, Judicial Election District 5A (Dallas County)

Nicholas Bailey serves as District Court Judge, Judicial Election District 5A (Dallas County). Nicholas Bailey is up for a retention vote on November 3, 2026: voters decide yes or no on keeping the judge in office, and the judge serves another term if a majority votes yes¹³. The Iowa Judicial Branch says the judge was appointed as a District Court Judge in 2025².

• District Court Judge, District 5A (Dallas County), appointed 2025²
• Before appointment: 15 years in solo private practice in state and federal courts, and a contract attorney for the State Public Defender in eleven counties of the Fifth Judicial District²
• Yale University (history); Drake University Law School, with High Honors²
• Appointed by Governor Kim Reynolds; her office announced the appointment on June 30, 2025⁴. The Iowa Judicial Branch says this judge was appointed as a District Court Judge in 2025². Iowa district judges and district associate judges are chosen by the governor from two names sent by a district judicial nominating commission, and then stand in retention elections³.