Judge James Gritzner

U.S. District Court, Southern District of Iowa

James Gritzner is an Article III federal judge on senior status for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. He was nominated to the court in 2002 by President George W. Bush on the recommendation of U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley. Gritzner served as chief judge of the court from 2011 until March 2015, when he assumed senior status.

Gritzner earned his bachelor’s degree from Dakota Wesleyan University in 1969, his master’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa in 1974, and his JD from Drake Law School in 1979.

Gritzner began his legal career as an assistant to Magistrate Judge Ronald Longstaff of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa in 1977. From 1979 until 2002, Judge Gritzner was an attorney in private practice. He also served as a member of the Iowa Board of Parole from 1980 to 1982.