When Ashley Stewart took her seat on the Iowa bench in 2024, she became the only Black woman currently serving as a judge in the state. In a state with over three million people and countless courtrooms, her presence is both groundbreaking and deeply symbolic.
“I mostly just try to live up to the justice standards and the oath that I’ve taken,” Judge Stewart shared. “But when I have defendants come into the courtroom who look like me, I’ve had folks walk in and say, ‘My God, I’ve never seen a Black woman judge before.’ Even though I’m meting out justice, I still feel they are proud that I’m serving on the bench.”
Her story is one of pivots, perseverance, and purpose. From a childhood in Dallas, Texas, to a journalism degree, to opening her own law practice during a recession, Judge Stewart’s journey reveals how setbacks can become stepping stones.
From Journalism Dreams to the Courtroom
As a high school student, Ashley dreamed of being a newspaper reporter. She wrote for her school paper, completed internships, and majored in journalism at the University of Houston. But her career plans shifted dramatically after an experience with blatant racism.
“I got a job offer at a small newspaper in Ohio,” she recalled. “But when they found out that I was a Black woman, the job offer disappeared. So I had to make other life choices.”
That detour led her to work at a law firm, where she discovered a new path. “Maybe what I was really supposed to do, what God meant for me to do, was to go to law school and not necessarily this journalism thing. And so that’s when I did a pivot.”
Her pivot led her to the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, where she committed to criminal law with the goal of upholding constitutional rights and helping people in difficult circumstances.
Building a Career Through Hustle and Heart
The 2009 recession meant public defender jobs were scarce, so Judge Stewart built her own practice from scratch.
“I was nervous because I didn’t know if I was going to get the right amount of clients, how I was going to pay bills. But the thing I had to do was hustle,” she explained. “It’s not necessarily about the grades you made in law school. What matters is the hustle of you getting yourself where you need to go. No one’s going to do it for you.”
For five years, she represented “low bono” clients—people who didn’t qualify for a public defender but still needed affordable legal help. That period, she says, taught her resilience, adaptability, and the business side of law.
Her career later took her to Nationwide Insurance, the State Appellate Defender’s Office, and eventually the bench—each role sharpening her skills and deepening her commitment to justice.
Finding Home—and Opportunity—in Iowa
When her husband accepted a position at Iowa State, Ashley moved from San Diego to Ames in 2014. Iowa was unfamiliar, and the winters were harsh. But she built community quickly through church and her sorority.
“Once I started to build those communities, Iowa felt like any other home I’d had before,” she said. “Aside from weather change, it didn’t really feel like I was moving anywhere different because I found the people who would have my back.”
Living in Iowa also opened new doors for her career. “If I still had been living in California, I’m not sure I would have the career that I currently have,” she reflected. “Just by virtue of living in a smaller state, I was more easily visible, more easily seen, and my qualifications were able to stand out.”
Representation, Responsibility, and Legacy
Judge Stewart knows her presence on the bench carries weight.
“My first responsibility is to make sure that you’re exacting justice on everyone you’re seeing in a fair and equitable way,” she explained. “But I also want to be an ambassador of our courthouse. Whether you’re a defendant or a victim, I represent every facet of every person who is in the state of Iowa.”
Her commitment extends beyond the courtroom. She frequently speaks with high school, college, and law students, especially young Black women considering legal careers.
“I tell all Black women, just go to law school if that’s where you want to go. It doesn’t matter which one. What matters is your own internal hustle,” she advised. “Apply for the jobs, even if you don’t check every single box. The worst someone can tell you is no. We get back up and we keep moving.”
When asked about her legacy, Judge Stewart returned to the theme of mentorship:
“I want people to remember that I upheld the Constitution and did everything a judge is supposed to do. But I also want to be that bridge for anyone else who finds themselves in the same position. Just like Judge Belcher laid the groundwork for me, I hope someone will say, ‘Judge Stewart laid the groundwork for me.’”
Final Thoughts
Judge Ashley Stewart’s story is about more than her title. It’s about the hustle of creating opportunities when doors close, the resilience to pivot when life demands it, and the responsibility of being a visible symbol of justice and possibility.
Her advice to women—especially Black women—is simple but powerful: “Apply anyway. Show up anyway. Hustle anyway.”
That’s the kind of legacy that inspires not only the next generation of lawyers but anyone striving to build the world they want to see.
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