Adria Kester-photo courtesy of Iowa Judicial Branch website

The chief judge of the Second Judicial District, which includes Greene County, was recently arrested for alleged drunk driving.

According to court documents, on Tuesday at 8:23pm the Boone County Sheriff’s Office responded to emergency calls from witnesses that claimed a woman was driving east in the westbound lanes of Highway 30 in Boone County. Court documents show that witnesses noticed the 2026 GMC Canyon Denali was being driven very slowly and the driver appeared to be unconscious and slumped over the steering wheel. 

Court documents show that the vehicle went into the median on the highway and one the callers had to enter the vehicle through a back window to put the vehicle into park and shut the vehicle off. The criminal complaint shows that after deputies arrived on scene, they noticed the driver, 55-year-old Adria Kester, had bloodshot and watery eyes, slurred speech and was not able to stand on her own. Court documents show that after Kester was assisted to the patrol vehicle, it was determined that she wasn’t in a safe position to do a field sobriety test and a search warrant was granted to take a sample of her blood for testing.

Kester was then charged with a serious misdemeanor for her first offense for an OWI. She was booked and released from the Boone County Jail. Court documents stipulate that the District Associate Judge assigned the case had to recuse herself, due to having a professional relationship to Kester, and Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court, Susan Christensen, signed the order that a Judge from the Fifth Judicial District would be assigned. The Boone County Attorney’s Office also filed a motion to appoint a special prosecutor, since they cited a conflict with prosecuting the case and the motion was granted, along with assigning the Polk County Attorney’s Office as special prosecutor. 

On Wednesday, the defense attorney pleaded not guilty to the charge and waived the initial appearance and preliminary hearing. The Second Judicial District includes 22 counties, with Greene County being one of them. Raccoon Valley Radio will bring you more information as it becomes official.