Iowa

pending

Summary

Iowa has no formal ISBA ethics opinion on AI and no Iowa Supreme Court AI rule. The ISBA Board established a new AI Committee in December 2025 tasked with public AI trainings, and the Iowa Judicial Branch has an active AI Working Group led by Justice Christopher McDonald. The Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board moved in August 2025 to strike filings by suspended attorney Royce David Turner that cited an AI-hallucinated case.

Applicable ABA Model Rules

Rule 1.1
Rule 1.4
Rule 1.5
Rule 1.6
Rule 3.3
Rule 3.4
Rule 5.1
Rule 5.3
Rule 8.4

Carrier Implications

CNA (ISBA-endorsed) and ALPS are primary Iowa carriers. Neither has published Iowa-specific AI guidance. Some carriers are introducing AI exclusions; Iowa firms should review policy language for AI exclusions before renewal.

This summary is informational only. Verify the primary source before relying on this entry. Bar rules differ meaningfully by state. Consult a licensed attorney in your state.

Iowa has no formal ISBA ethics opinion on attorney AI use, and the Iowa Supreme Court has issued no AI-specific court rule. Guidance is limited to educational content in The Iowa Lawyer Magazine, Iowa Bar Blog resources, and a December 2025 ISBA Board resolution forming a new AI Committee. The Iowa Judicial Branch’s AI Working Group, led by Justice Christopher McDonald, is studying court AI governance but has not issued binding rules.

The most salient in-state warning is the Turner disciplinary matter: the Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board moved in August 2025 to strike multiple filings by suspended Des Moines attorney Royce David Turner alleging he cited “In re Mears,” a nonexistent case, in reinstatement filings. ABA Formal Opinion 512 is the de facto compliance framework for Iowa attorneys.

Bottom line for a 5-50 attorney Iowa firm: Iowa has no binding AI-specific rule, formal opinion, or court order, making ABA Formal Opinion 512 the practical compliance floor. Document AI use, supervise outputs, and verify every citation before filing.

Last verified: April 23, 2026