Susan L. Christensen
 | This article appears to have been generated by a large language model (such as ChatGPT) without having been rigorously scrutinized for verifiability, neutrality, original research, and copyright compliance. It may include misleading or inaccurate claims and fake references that sound plausible. (May 2026) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) |
Susan L. Christensen | |
|---|---|
| File:Ellwood City Ledger.webp | |
| Chief Justice of Iowa Supreme Court | |
| Appointed by | Kim Reynolds |
| Preceded by | Bruce B. Zager |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 27, 1962 Harlan, Iowa |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Judson University(BA) Creighton University(JD) |
| Signature | File:State v. Paye.jpg |
Susan Larson Christensen (born April 27, 1962) is an American jurist who serves as the Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court since the year 2020. She was appointed to the court in 2018 by Governor Kim Reynolds and became chief justice after being selected by her fellow peers following the death of Chief Justice Mark Cady.[1] Christensen is also the second woman judge to be appointed and sit so high in the court.
Early life and education
Susan Larson Christensen was born on April 27, 1962, in Harlan, Iowa, where she was also raised.[2]
She attended Judson University in 1988, graduating as valedictorian with a bachelor's degree in psychology. She later earned her Juris Doctor from Creighton University School of Law in 1991.
Christensen comes from a family who has a background in the legal field. Her father, Jerry L. Larson, served on the Iowa Supreme Court from 1978 to 2008.[3]
Legal career before the bench
Before joining the judiciary, Christensen worked in both private practice and public prosecution.
From 1991 to 2003 she practiced law at the firm Larson, Childs, Hall & Christensen in Harlan, Iowa. Her practice focused primarily on family law. The Judge she was working under, Leo Connolly, was soon to retire and this is when she started her application process to become a judge. After her interview the commission told her that she needed more experience and that someday she may become a judge. Christensen repeated this process and got denied 14 times.[4]
She later continued working as a sole practitioner from the years 2003-2007.[5]
During this period she also served as an assistant count attorney for several counties in western Iowa. She held prosecutorial roles in Shelby County from 1991 to 2007, Harrison County from 1996-2007, and Crawford County in 2007.
Her work during this time period included handling criminal prosecutions and family law matters, which later down the road shaped her interest in issues that involve juvenile justice and child welfare.
She chairs the Children's Justice State Council and previously chaired the Family First task Force and served on the Supreme Courts Family Law Pro Se Forms Committee as well. She is currently a member of The Iowa State Bar Association, the Southwest Iowa Bar Association, and the Shelby County Bar Association. [6]
Judicial career
Christen served as district associate judge in 2007 and upheld this position until 2015. After serving as district associate judge she served as district court judge in Iowas fourth judicial district in 2015. Christensen handled mainly civil and criminal cases.[7]
Her work as a trial judge helped her establish her reputation within the Iowa judiciary and paved her way for later selection of the state's highest court.
Chief justice of the Iowa State Supreme Court
Christensen was appointed to the Iowa Supreme Court in August of 2018 by Governor Kim Reynolds, filling an opening left by the retirement of Justice Bruce B. Zager. She was sworn in on September 21, 2018.[8]
On February 24, 2020, the justices of the court collectively selected Christensen to serve as the Chief Justice, making her the second woman in Iowa to hold said position.[9]
As chief justice, she oversees administrative functions of the Iowa Judicial Branch, Christensen also over sees the courts conferences and oral arguments they have, and delivers the annual Condition of the Judiciary address to the Iowa Legislature.[10]
During her term, she highlighted issues that involved judicial funding, access to justice, and improvements to the juvenile court system.[11]
In the new term that began in 2025, her colleagues re-elected her to continue serving as chief justice.[12] Each term last for two years, and once the person hits the age of 72 they must retire.[13]
Awards and Recognition
Creighton University Alumni Merit Award- An award for Alumni that are outstanding students and have achieved big goals after graduating.[14]
IAJ's Judicial Achievement award - An award showing her dedication to service as an attorney, district associate judge, district court judge and Iowa Supreme Court justice. [15]
Personal life
Christensen has stayed connected to her hometown and gives back when she can.
Her husband, Jay Christensen, has served as mayor of Harlan. As well as, a lot of her family holding multiple positions in the legal profession: her father, Jerry L. Larson, who served for three decades on the Iowa Supreme Court. Her brother, Jefferey Larson, is a judge in Iowa's Fourth Judicial District the same as where Christensen started her legal career.
Susan Christensen and Jay Christensen have five children one in which is disabled and has several grandchildren.[16]
References
- ↑ Gruber-Miller, Stephen. "Susan Christensen sworn in as Iowa's newest Supreme Court justice". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
- ↑ "Susan Christensen". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
- ↑ "Jerry L. Larson". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
- ↑ Goodman, Jeffrey (June 6). The book of judges perspectives from the bench (1st ed.). Kansas: Lamont-Ogden Group (published June 6, 2025). pp. 539–543. ISBN 9798218615413. Check date values in:
|date=, |year= / |date= mismatch(help) Search this book on
- ↑ "The Honorable Susan Christensen". Trellis. April 16, 2026. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
- ↑ Branch, J (January 10, 2025). "Iowa Supreme Court reselects Christensen as chief justice". Iowa Judicial Branch. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
- ↑ Gruber-Miller, Stephen. "Gov. Kim Reynolds names district court judge to Iowa Supreme Court". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
- ↑ Sostaric, Katarina (2018-08-01). "Reynolds Appoints Judge Susan Christensen to Iowa Supreme Court". Iowa Public Radio. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
- ↑ "Chief Justice Susan Christensen Archives • Iowa Capital Dispatch". Iowa Capital Dispatch. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
- ↑ Henderson, Kay (January 10, 2024). "Chief Justice appeals for better pay for Iowa judges". Radio Iowa. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
- ↑ Henderson, Kay (January 12th, 2022). "Iowa Supreme Chief Justice says pandemic made courts stronger and better". Radio Iowa. Retrieved April 16th, 2026. Check date values in:
|access-date=, |date=(help) - ↑ "Harlan's Susan Larson Christensen Reappointed Chief Justice". Harlan Insider. 2025-01-10. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
- ↑ "Justices". Iowa Judical Branch. April 16th, 2026. Retrieved April 16th, 2026. Check date values in:
|access-date=, |date=(help) - ↑ "Kudos". The Iowa State Bar Association. 2024-09-25. Retrieved 2026-05-11.
- ↑ "Iowa - Justice Susan Christensen received IAJ's Judicial Achievement Award in recognition of her "many years of distinguished service to the people of iowa as a practicing attorney, a District Associate Judge, a District Court Judge and, now, as a Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court." | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2026-05-11.
- ↑ "Dad and brother went first; now she's the boss". The National Judicial College. Retrieved 2026-05-11.
This article "Susan L. Christensen" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Susan L. Christensen. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
