A high-ranking Iowa judge is facing criminal charges and professional scrutiny after being accused of driving the wrong way on a highway while intoxicated before allegedly losing consciousness behind the wheel.
Authorities say Iowa Chief Judge Adria Kester, who oversees the state’s Second Judicial District, was arrested Tuesday night after multiple drivers reported a pickup traveling the wrong direction on Highway 30 near Boone.
One witness told deputies that Kester appeared “slumped over the steering wheel” and climbed into the truck through its rear window to shift it into park before a collision could occur, according to the Des Moines Register.
According to the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, dispatchers received two emergency calls around 8 p.m. describing the vehicle swerving into oncoming traffic.
Deputies arriving on the scene found Kester disoriented, with “bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech” and a cup in the truck that smelled strongly of alcohol.
Kester, 55, was taken to Boone County Hospital, where officers obtained a warrant for a blood draw.
She was arrested for first-offense operating while intoxicated, booked into the Boone County Jail around 4 a.m., and later released.
Officials have not yet disclosed the results of her blood test.
Since Kester serves as a chief judge overseeing 22 counties, the case prompted immediate recusals and reassignments.
District Associate Judge Ashley Beisch withdrew from the case, citing a professional relationship and Boone County Attorney Matthew Speers requested a special prosecutor.
The Polk County Attorney’s Office accepted the case, and Iowa Chief Justice Susan Christensen reassigned it to Judge Gregory Brandt from the Fifth Judicial District.
Kester appeared in court Wednesday morning, where she pleaded not guilty and waived her preliminary hearing.
The court ordered her to complete a substance abuse evaluation within 30 days and comply with any recommended treatment.
Her arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 22 in Des Moines.
Her attorney, Matt Lindholm, said Kester is “fully cooperating with law enforcement and the judicial process” and recognizes “the seriousness of the situation.”
Boone County Sheriff Andy Godzicki expressed relief that no one was injured, calling it “a difficult situation for both the Kester family and our office.”
The Iowa Judicial Branch confirmed it is aware of the arrest but declined to comment on whether Kester will remain in her role.
A spokesperson said judicial conduct complaints fall under the Iowa Judicial Qualifications Commission, which can recommend discipline, including suspension or removal, for conduct bringing the judiciary “into disrepute.”
Kester’s legal and professional record is lengthy.
A Drake University Law School graduate, she previously worked as a public defender and county attorney before being appointed as a district associate judge in 2013.
In 2017, Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) promoted her to district court judge, and in 2022, Chief Justice Christensen elevated her to chief judge, making her the first woman to hold that position in the district.
The misdemeanor charge carries up to one year in jail, a minimum $1,250 fine and possible license restrictions if convicted.
Kester’s arrest has renewed calls for stronger judicial accountability after a series of similar DUI-related incidents involving judges across the country.
