May 29, 2026, 12:30 PM - 4:30 PM (US Central)
Polk County Courts Open House on Friday, May 29, 2026, from 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM.
CLE Portion: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Location: Polk County Courthouse (HC), Room 310
Before the PCBA Open House officially begins, join us for an informative, 1-hour Continuing Legal Education (CLE) session covering essential knowledge on day-to-day court operations in Polk County and will let you know about their role in the courts and best practices, tips and information that practicing Polk County attorneys should know..
Speakers:
-
Chief Judge David Porter and Drew Gentsch: Welcome, opening remarks, courthouse updates.
-
Assistant Chief Judge McAllister: Insights on court appointments and Post-Conviction Relief actions (PCRs).
-
Judge Farrell: Discussion on Family Law Fridays and pro bono volunteer opportunities.
-
Courthouse Administration & Staff Panel moderated by Judge Kemp: A practical, Q&A-driven discussion featuring Colleen Adams (Civil Case Coordinator), Diane Cox (Criminal Case Coordinator), Josie Johnson (Court Reporter), and Ashley Thompson (Assistant Administrator overseeing court attendants).
Following the panel, many Polk County judges and staff will be available in their courtrooms across all three court campus buildings for you to stop in and see. This event also serves as a throwback to the tradition of meeting with judges in chambers, offering a more personal interaction.
We encourage law firms to seize this occasion to introduce their new associates to the Courthouse environment, facilitating valuable networking opportunities and building relationships with key figures in the legal profession.
Refreshments will be provided by the Polk County Bar Association in room 4510 of the Polk County Historic Courthouse during the event and a list of participating judges and their courtrooms will be available closer to the event as well.
CLE Credit: (ONLY APPLIES TO THE COURT STAFF PANEL PORTION OF THE EVENT) Approved for 60 minutes of general CLE credit: Activity Number: 441595.
