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Susan Christensen

Chief Justice

Susan Christensen

Chief Justice Christensen, Harlan, was appointed to the Iowa Supreme Court in 2018. The members of the court selected her as chief justice in February 2020.

She was born and raised in Harlan, Iowa. She earned her bachelor's degree from Judson College in 1988 and her law degree from Creighton University School of Law in 1991. 

Prior to her appointment to the supreme court, Chief Justice Christensen was appointed a district associate judge in 2007 and a district court judge in 2015. Before becoming a judge, she practiced law in Harlan for 16 years.

Chief Justice Christensen chaired the Children's Justice State Council and the Family First Task Force, and served on the Supreme Court's Family Law Pro Se Forms Committee, Child Support Guidelines Review Committee, Parents Representation Standards Committee, and Guardianship/Conservatorship Task Force as well as the Children's Mental Health and Wellbeing Advisory Committee. She is a member of the Iowa Judges Association, the Iowa State Bar Association, the Southwest Iowa Bar Association, and the Shelby County Bar Association.

Chief Justice Christensen is married with five children and nine grandchildren.

Her current term expires December 31, 2028.

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