When Justice Takes a Wrong Turn: A Judge's OWI Charge Shakes Iowa

In the quiet corners of Iowa, a story has unfolded that, honestly, leaves many of us a little stunned. It involves a figure meant to uphold the law, a person entrusted with significant power within our judicial system: District Court Judge Kellyann Lekar. She’s now facing charges of operating while intoxicated (OWI), and the details emerging are, to say the least, rather troubling.

Picture this: a chilly evening, February 20, on U.S. Highway 20 near Dyersville. Reports started coming in – frantic calls, really – about a vehicle heading the wrong way. The kind of reports that send shivers down your spine, signaling immediate, grave danger. Dubuque County deputies responded, and what they found led them straight to Judge Lekar.

According to the official court documents, it wasn't just a simple traffic stop. Her blood alcohol content was allegedly a staggering 0.174 percent. To put that into perspective, it's more than double Iowa’s legal limit of 0.08. And, in a moment that perhaps speaks volumes about the situation, she reportedly identified herself as a judge to the deputies on the scene. One can only imagine the tension in that interaction, right?

Judge Lekar, a seasoned legal professional, has served on the district court bench since 2018. Before that, for a considerable eighteen years, she held the esteemed position of Dubuque County attorney. So, this isn't some novice; this is someone deeply, intimately familiar with the letter and spirit of the law she's now accused of breaking.

Naturally, the fallout has been swift and, well, necessary. The chief judge of the 1st Judicial District moved to place her on administrative leave. And because the system, for once, aims to avoid even the appearance of impropriety, the case itself has been handed off to the Delaware County attorney’s office. It’s a move designed to ensure impartiality, to prevent any suggestion that a local prosecutor might tread lightly simply because the accused wears a judicial robe.

This whole episode, you could say, casts a long shadow. It forces us to grapple with uncomfortable questions about accountability, about the immense pressure public servants face, and yes, about the human frailties that can touch even the highest offices. Her preliminary hearing is slated for March 1, and the judicial community — and indeed, the public — will be watching closely. Because ultimately, justice, in all its forms, must apply to everyone, without exception.