Iowa Ct. R. 51:2.3

(A) A judge shall perform the duties of judicial office, including administrative duties,

without bias or prejudice.

(B) A judge shall not, in the performance of judicial duties, by words or conduct manifest

bias or prejudice or engage in harassment, including but not limited to bias, prejudice, or

harassment based upon race, sex, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, age,

sexual orientation, marital status, socioeconomic status, or political affiliation, and shall not

permit court staff, court officials, or others subject to the judge’s direction and control to do so.

(C) A judge shall require lawyers in proceedings before the court to refrain from manifesting

bias or prejudice or engaging in harassment, based upon attributes including but not limited

to race, sex, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation,

marital status, socioeconomic status, or political affiliation, against parties, witnesses, lawyers,

or others.

(D) The restrictions of paragraphs (B) and (C) do not preclude judges or lawyers from

making legitimate reference to the listed factors, or similar factors, when they are relevant to

an issue in a proceeding.

Comment

[1] A judge who manifests bias or prejudice in a proceeding impairs the fairness of the proceeding

and brings the judiciary into disrepute.

[2] Examples of manifestations of bias or prejudice include but are not limited to epithets; slurs;

demeaning nicknames; negative stereotyping; attempted humor based upon stereotypes; threatening,

intimidating, or hostile acts; suggestions of connections between race, ethnicity, or nationality and

crime; insensitive statements about crimes against women; and irrelevant references to personal

characteristics. Even facial expressions and body language can convey to parties and lawyers in the

proceeding, jurors, the media, and others an appearance of bias or prejudice. A judge must avoid

conduct that may reasonably be perceived as prejudiced or biased.

[3] Harassment, as referred to in paragraphs (B) and (C), is verbal or physical conduct that

denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward a person on bases such as race, sex, gender, religion,

national origin, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, marital status, socioeconomic status, or

political affiliation.

[4] Sexual harassment includes but is not limited to sexual advances, requests for sexual favors,

and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is unwelcome.