Stoebe being investigation by House committee
District Court Judge Kurt Stoebe is being investigated by the Iowa House of Representatives Judiciary Committee regarding Stoebe's conduct and comments when he chaired the Judicial District 2B Nominating Commission last October. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said Stoebe "tainted the process." Stoebe then stepped down as chair and the Commission selected the same two candidates, a former and current Humboldt County Attorney. Reynolds selected Derek Johnson, an attorney and assistant court judge from Fort Dodge.
On Thursday, Feb. 10, the Iowa House of Representatives passed a resolution allowing the standing committee on Judiciary to conduct an investigation into the conduct of Judge Kurt J. Stoebe, of the Judicial District 2B Judicial Nominating Commission and all matters related.
In November 2021, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds rejected two nominations for open judgeships on the District 2B Court. Stoebe, a Humboldt native, now living in rural Fort Dodge, chaired the Commission and was accused by the governor of tainting the process by making comments on some of the nominees.
Stoebe then stepped down as the chair and the Judge James Ellefson reconvened the Judicial Nominating Commission with the same two finalist candidates selected, Fort Dodge Attorney Derek Johnson, a former Humboldt County Attorney, and current Humboldt County Attorney Jon Beaty. Reynolds selected Johnson.
House Judiciary Committee Chair Steven Holt (R-Denison) has said the investigation is a pursuit of information, whether it exonerates Stoebe or confirms the allegations.
