"Judge Lekar has proven leadership abilities," Chief Justice Cady said. "She has a strong work ethic, involvement in several innovative court projects and an excellent working relationship with judges and staff. I'm confident she will make an effective chief judge. "
Judge Lekar was born in Waterloo. She earned her undergraduate degree from Iowa State University in 1990 and her law degree from the University of Iowa in 1993. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Lekar was in private practice in Waterloo until her appointment to the bench in 2005. She is co-chair of the First Judicial District Family Law Mediation Committee and a member of the district's public outreach committee. She is also a state delegate to the American Bar Association's National Council of State Trial Judges a member of the American Bar Association, Courts and Community Committee of the Iowa Judges Association, the Iowa State Bar Association Jury Instructions Committee, and the Black Hawk County and Iowa State Bar Associations.
"I am pleased to have an opportunity to serve the First Judicial District as Chief Judge," she said. "As a native of Waterloo, I am proud to serve and represent northeast Iowa in this position. The judges and staff of the First Judicial District are hardworking, innovative and dedicated and I am privileged to work with them on a daily basis. Together we will strive to provide excellent judicial branch services to the citizens of the First Judicial District."
As chief judge, Judge Lekar will supervise all judicial officers and court employees in the district, supervise the performance of administrative and judicial business in the district, set the times and places of holding court, designate presiding judges, and serve on the judicial council, which advises the supreme court on administrative matters affecting the trial courts. In addition, she will continue to preside over cases.
The First Judicial District is located in northeast Iowa and comprises 11 counties: Allamakee, Black Hawk, Buchanan, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Grundy, Howard, and Winneshiek. The district has 14 district judges, six district associate judges, three associate juvenile judges, four senior judges, 20 part-time magistrates, and 204 employees, with an operating budget for the current fiscal year of approximately $16,501,993. A total of 99,309 cases were filed in the First Judicial District last year.
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