Criminal Defense law in Iowa covers felonies, misdemeanors, drug offenses, assault, theft, and white-collar crimes. When these legal matters arise, having the right attorney can make a significant difference in the outcome. Iowa has its own statutes, court procedures, and legal standards that apply specifically to criminal defense cases, and attorneys who practice in District Court regularly understand the nuances that affect how these matters are resolved.

Criminal cases in Iowa are prosecuted through District Court, with appeals handled by the Court of Appeals. Your constitutional rights apply, but Iowa's own rules of criminal procedure determine how the case unfolds in practice. Early representation is critical — the decisions made in the first days after arrest often define the trajectory of the entire case. The Iowa State Bar Association maintains standards for criminal defense practitioners in the state.

Choosing the right criminal defense attorney in Iowa means evaluating more than just qualifications — it means finding someone who understands the local legal system and has handled similar cases. Use the profiles on this page to compare attorney experience, read client reviews, check office locations, and identify lawyers who offer free initial consultations. Taking the time to compare options can significantly affect your outcome.

For a detailed overview of how criminal defense law works in Iowa — including key statutes, deadlines, and what to expect from the legal process — Read our complete guide to criminal defense law in Iowa. If you're ready to take the next step, browse the attorney profiles below and reach out for a free consultation.

Dean A Stowers - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Stowers & Nelsen PLC
 650 S. Prairie View Drive West Des Moines IA 50266
(515) 224-7446
Southern District of Iowa Bar
Unknown Status
Animal & Dog Law Cannabis & Marijuana Law Criminal Law
T. Cody Farrens - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Tigges, Bottaro & Lessmann, LLP
 613 Pierce Street Sioux City IA 51101
(712) 252-3226
University of Iowa College of Law (2010)
English
South Dakota Bar
Unknown Status
Criminal Law Divorce Domestic Violence
Mitchell Taylor - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
 420 N Roosevelt Avenue Suite 110 Burlington IA 52601
(319) 752-4537
Drake University Law School (1989)
English
Iowa Bar
Active License
Bankruptcy Business Law Criminal Law
Ryan Babich - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Babich Sarcone
 501 SW 7th Street Suite J Des Moines IA 50309
(515) 244-4300
Drake University Law School (2007)
Iowa Bar
Active License
Criminal Law Divorce Domestic Violence
Ben Lynch - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Ben Lynch Law
 8550 Hickman Road Clive IA 50325
(515) 276-3921
Drake University Law School (2013)
Iowa Bar
Unknown Status
Civil Rights Criminal Law Employment Law
Nick E Wingert - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Mayne, Hindman, Daane, Parry & Wingert
 701 Pierce St., Suite 300 Sioux City IA 51101
(712) 277-1434
Iowa Bar
Unknown Status
Appeals & Appellate Criminal Law Divorce
David A. Cmelik - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
David A. Cmelik Law PLC
 311 Third Avenue Suite 308 Cedar Rapids IA 52401
(319) 389-1889
8th Circuit Bar
Unknown Status
Cannabis & Marijuana Law Criminal Law Domestic Violence
Austin J Luse - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Balduchi Law Office, P.C.
 2801 Hubbell Ave. Des Moines IA 50317
(515) 247-9297
Drake University Law School (2017)
English
Iowa Bar
Unknown Status
Criminal Law Family Law Probate
Ms. Nina M Forcier - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
 405 Jefferson Street Suite B Waterloo IA 50701
(319) 234-1371
Drake University Law School (2007)
Sac and Fox Tribe in the Mississippi in Iowa Bar
Active License
Appeals & Appellate Business Law Consumer Law
Peter Hansen - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Hansen Law Offices
 319 North Main Street Burlington IA 52601
(319) 752-5515
University of Iowa (1979)
English
Iowa Bar
Unknown Status
Animal & Dog Law Bankruptcy Criminal Law
Robert Tiefenthaler - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Tiefenthaler Law Office, P.C.
 501 Pierce St. Ste. 210 Sioux City IA 51101
(712) 252-5080
South Dakota Bar
Active License
Criminal Law DUI & DWI Medical Malpractice
Angela Fritz Reyes - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Reyes Law Office
 116 E 6th St Davenport IA 52803
(563) 579-5917
English, Spanish
Iowa Bar
Unknown Status
Cannabis & Marijuana Law Civil Rights Criminal Law
Allison McCarthy - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
McCarthy Law, P.C.
 105 S. 11th St. West Des Moines IA 50265
(515) 867-4023
University of Iowa (2007)
Spanish
8th Circuit Bar
Unknown Status
Appeals & Appellate Criminal Law Domestic Violence
Jack Bjornstad - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
 1700 Hill Avenue Spirit Lake IA 51360
(712) 332-5225
University of Iowa (1996)
U.S. Supreme Court Bar
Unknown Status
Civil Rights Criminal Law DUI & DWI
Aaron Hamrock - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
McCarthy & Hamrock, P.C.
 1200 Valley W Dr #400 West Des Moines IA 50266
(515) 279-9700
Drake University
English
Iowa Bar
Unknown Status
Cannabis & Marijuana Law Criminal Law Domestic Violence
Nicholas Hay - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Hay Law, P.L.C.
 308 5th Avenue Decorah IA 52101
(563) 568-7728
Drake University Law School (2008)
Iowa Bar
Unknown Status
Business Law Civil Rights Consumer Law
Eric David Puryear - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Puryear Law P.C.
 3719 Bridge Ave Suite 6 Davenport IA 52807
(563) 265-6961
DePaul College of Law (2009)
English
Illinois Bar
Unknown Status
Appeals & Appellate Business Law Consumer Law
Mr. J. Keith Rigg - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
J. Keith Rigg, Lawyer at Law
 317 6th Avenue Suite 1300 Des Moines IA 50309
(515) 284-7930
Illinois State University
English
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Iowa Bar
Active License
Appeals & Appellate Cannabis & Marijuana Law Criminal Law
Jeremy N. Gallagher - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Kintzinger, Harmon, Konrardy, PLC
 100 W. 12th Street Dubuque IA 52001
(563) 588-0547
University of Iowa College of Law
Unknown Status
Appeals & Appellate Collections Criminal Law
Peter Ickes - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
 500 E. Court Avenue Suite 200 Des Moines IA 50309
(515) 245-4300
Drake University Law School (2016)
English
Iowa Bar
Unknown Status
Appeals & Appellate Criminal Law DUI & DWI
Danielle Dunne - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Carney & Appleby Law
 303 Locust Street Suite 400 Des Moines IA 50309
(515) 282-6803
Drake University Law School (2020)
Iowa Bar
Unknown Status
Appeals & Appellate Criminal Law Divorce
Shane Zisman - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Shane Zisman Law
 2094 185th St, Suite 15 fairfield IA 52556
(641) 472-5141
Iowa Bar
Unknown Status
Bankruptcy Business Law Criminal Law
Shawn Fitzgerald - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Johnston, Stannard, Klesner, Burbidge & Fitzgerald, PLC
 373 Scott Ct. Ste B Iowa City IA 52245
(319) 354-1712
The John Marshall Law School (2002)
Iowa Bar
Unknown Status
Business Law Criminal Law Personal Injury
Peter Shayman - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Viner Law Office
 228 2nd Street SE Cedar Rapids IA 52401
(319) 531-1333
DePaul College of Law (2015)
Iowa Bar
Unknown Status
Criminal Law Divorce DUI & DWI
Brett P. Hall - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Hall Law Office, P.L.C.
 701 Pierce Street Suite 202 Sioux City IA 51101
(712) 226-4255
University of South Dakota School of Law
English
Iowa Bar
Active License
Criminal Law Divorce DUI & DWI
Thomas Viner - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Viner Law Office PC
 228 2d St SE Cedar Rapids IA 52401
(319) 200-4538
Drake University Law School (2002)
English
Iowa Bar
Unknown Status
Criminal Law Divorce DUI & DWI
Ethan Epley - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Stumme Law Office
 171 E. Main St. PO Box 50 Denver IA 50622
(319) 984-5479
Drake University (2007)
Unknown Status
Agricultural Law Bankruptcy Criminal Law
Raphael Scheetz - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Law Office of Raphael M. Scheetz
 425 2nd St SE Suite 1010 Cedar Rapids IA 52401
(319) 378-7416
Creighton U (1993)
7th Circuit Bar
Active License
Criminal Law DUI & DWI Immigration Law
John E. Beasley - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Phelan Tucker Law
 321 East Market Street Iowa CIty IA 52245
(319) 354-1104
University of Iowa College of Law (1989)
English
Unknown Status
Criminal Law Family Law Real Estate Law
John O. Moeller - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
john moeller attorney
 1503 Brady St Davenport IA 52803
(563) 323-3014
University of Iowa (1971)
8th Circuit Bar
Unknown Status
Appeals & Appellate Criminal Law DUI & DWI
Leah Patton - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Patton Legal Services, LLC
 P.O. Box 8981 Ames IA 50014
(515) 686-6267
English
Illinois Bar
Unknown Status
Appeals & Appellate Criminal Law Divorce
Nikolas Richard Pilcher - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
The Law Offices of Parmenter, Pilcher, & Pilcher
 PO Box 336 501 E. Fourth St. Huxley IA 50124
(515) 597-3401
Southern Illinois University School of Law (2017)
English
Iowa Bar
Unknown Status
Collections Criminal Law Divorce
Lynn Rose - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Mears Law Office
 209 E. Washington Paul-Helen Bldg, Ste. 203 Iowa City IA 52240
(319) 351-4363
English
Iowa Bar
Unknown Status
Appeals & Appellate Criminal Law Family Law
Robert E Peterson - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
 PO Box 1144 108 West 8th St. Carroll IA 51401
(712) 792-4485
Drake University Law School
Iowa Bar
Unknown Status
Bankruptcy Civil Rights Criminal Law
Dai Gwilliam - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Dai Gwilliam - Lawyer at Law
 432 E. Bloomington St. Iowa City IA 52245
(319) 354-6000
MFA Theater, University of Iowa
Iowa Bar
Active License
Bankruptcy Criminal Law Divorce
Philip Mears - Attorney
0/5 (0 reviews)
Mears Law Office
 209 E. Washington Paul-Helen Bldg, Ste. 203 Iowa City IA 52240
(319) 351-4363
University of Iowa (1977)
U.S. Supreme Court Bar
Unknown Status
Appeals & Appellate Criminal Law
Showing 1-40 of 169 attorneys
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