Iowa’s new 6th District Judge David Cox looking forward to routine, one less job

CEDAR RAPIDS — David Cox is accustomed to juggling more than one role at a time, so when he takes the bench later this month as the newest 6th Judicial District judge it will be a welcome change to only have one job.

Cox, 40, of North Liberty, has been handling family law cases as an attorney with Bray and Klockau in Iowa City since 2008. He was appointed as a Johnson County magistrate in 2018 before Gov. Kim Reynolds appointed him as a district judge last month.

This was Cox’s fourth time to apply for a judge’s position and the first time he was one of the two selected by the nominating commission to send to the governor. Many of the candidates apply more than once before being selected.

He replaces Judge Mary Chicchelly who was appointed in December to the Iowa Court of Appeals. Iowa’s 6th Judicial District covers Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Tama counties.

Along with representing family law clients and presiding over misdemeanor cases as a magistrate, Cox also has served in the legal community by being on various committees and task forces for the Iowa Supreme Court and the Iowa State Bar and Johnson County Bar associations. Some of those were leadership roles.

Outside of work-related duties, Cox wears yet another hat — coach of his 10-year-old son’s basketball team or any other seasonal sport his son may be playing, including flag football and baseball. He admits third- and fourth-graders can be like “herding cats” with all different ability levels, but the games are always fun and the best part — his son wants him to coach.

Cox said growing up in Cedar Falls he always played baseball, basketball and football and his dad was his coach. His dad taught the “three Rs” — have respect for opponents, teammates and yourself. He still follows those.

Lori Klockau, attorney with Bray and Klockau, said Cox is a “clear thinker and excellent writer who takes the components of the law, applies the facts and comes up with a ruling.” He has the experience of being a law clerk and magistrate to make him “uniquely qualified” to be a judge, she said.

Cox’s temperament is also well suited for being a judge, Klockau said. His is a “kind and patient” person who always has “good client and courtroom control.” She admits she sounds like a “proud mother” but she has known and worked with Cox for many years.

Klockau recalled just after Cox got the job with the firm, the flood of 2008 happened and another Iowa City law practice sent out an “SOS” for their flooded office. She and others, including Cox, went to help. Cox, in his “brand-new suit because he just became a lawyer,” just rolled up his pants and waded through the nasty floodwaters to rescue office equipment and files.

“That’s what kind of person he is,” Klockau said.

‘Great addition’

Sixth Judicial District Judge Chad Kepros, who also worked with Cox at Bray and Klockau before being appointed to the bench, agreed that Cox will be a “great addition to the bench. He's smart, a hard-worker and cares about people. I think he will serve the people of the district well.”

Cox acknowledges the workload will be a big change, but he enjoys the routine of going into the courthouse every day, focusing on the law and making rulings, much like he has done as a magistrate, only now it will be full-time.

In his application to the nominating commission, he said being a judge “fulfills his desire” to give back to the legal community, along with being of service.

Cox said it is important that the people who come into the courts can trust that judges will give them a “good opportunity to resolve their disputes and we are following the law.” He also wants to do his part to “build faith” in the judicial branch.

Early on, Cox always planned to go into law. He has always been a “rule follower” and the law which is made up of general rules to help guide society made sense to him. On the other hand, there also are “exception to the rules when a wrong needs to be righted,” he said.

He started out with a plan to be a prosecutor after interning with the Johnson County Attorney’s Office while in law school at the University of Iowa College of Law, but there weren’t any openings at the time. He then started realizing that family law cases could be compelling because they involve so many legal issues over paternity, custody, temporary orders, adoptions and other matters that require going into court and trying cases, which he enjoyed.

As a magistrate, he had the experience of dealing with a variety of cases and it gave him the opportunity to see the other side of the bench — a different view from that of a family law attorney. He enjoys listening to people’s stories of their issues and needs, piecing it all together and writing a ruling to solve it.

Cox will start as a judge March 18. After being appointed, he has 30 days to wrap up his family law cases and ensure any clients with pending cases have a new attorney.

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com