Yes, you have properly read that title, Judge Edward Jacobson of Plymouth County, Iowa has admitted that “a couple hundred” of his rulings actually were written by attorneys involved in those same cases! Oft times, even done so without the knowledge of the opposing counsel, certainly without the knowledge of the petitioner or respondent in such cases…

Iowa attorneys are stating… Jacobson’s process of issuing decisions written by others are “fraudulent” and an abuse of judicial discretion. Another attorney reported her involvement in the matter to state ethics officials, and a third is alleging that the judge’s actions led to violations of attorney-client privilege.

“That is clearly improper,” said Bob Oberbillig of Drake University Law School.

Members of the Iowa judiciary are clearly aware that ex parte communications, in which a judge speaks privately with only one party in a case, are barred by the Iowa Code of Judicial Conduct if they result in an advantage of any kind to that party.

Judge Jacobson justified his actions by stating:“The process lightened my workload and enabled me to meet the court system’s 60-day deadline for judges to rule on cases awaiting a decision”



It is not as if Judge Jacobson did not know what he was doing was wrong or may even be considered to be illegal, In fact, it is my contention that he knew exactly what he was doing as he further stated with regard to his background… “Shortly after I got out of law school I was appointed as a law train magistrate in South Dakota, which is similar to an associate district judge in Iowa. I did that part-time for six years before I came to Ida Grove.”Judge Jacobson was appointed to the bench in October 2001. He received his bachelor’s degree from Morningside College in 1971 and his Juris Doctorate from the University of South Dakota in 1974. Judge Jacobson has spent 26 years in private practice.

For more on Judge Jacobson’s efforts to lighten his workload no matter how it may have adversely affected others, please read the entire story here:

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/investigations/2018/03/09/iowa-judge-admits-hundreds-his-rulings-were-ghost-written-attorneys-potentially-and-raising-question/406448002/