John C. Werden received his bachelor of arts degree from Grinnell College in 1981 and then went to Drake University where he was awarded the Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1984.
He first served as an assistant county attorney starting in 1988 and has been the elected Carroll County attorney since 1998.
John Werden's professional activities:
- Judicial Nominating Commission 2012 - 2016
- Iowa State Bar Association
- Jury Instruction Committee 2014 - 2021
- Board of Governors 2020 -
- National District Attorneys Association
- Fight Crime Invest in Kids
- National Leadership Council 2019 -
- Iowa County Attorneys Association
- Past President
- Prosecutorial Standards and Conduct Committee Chair 2012 - 2013
- Legislative Committee 2011 -
- Government Practice Committee 2010 -
- Best Practices Committee 2017 -
- Iowa County Attorneys Case Management Project
- Iowa State Association of Counties
- Board Member 2018 -
- Executive Board Member 2021 -
John Werden is admitted to practice before:
- Iowa Supreme Court
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
- United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit
- United States Tax Court
- United States Supreme Court
County Attorney Werden is committed to the public safety of Carroll County.
The County Attorney is the chief law enforcement officer of the county. In our criminal justice system, the decision whether to prosecute, and if so on what charges, is a matter ordinarily within the discretion of the duly elected prosecutor. The decision whether to bring charges is at the heart of the prosecutorial function. For this reason it is the general rule that a prosecutor is not subject to judicial supervision in determining what charges to bring and how to draft accusatory pleadings. The county attorney is not generally subject to judicial oversight based on the doctrine of separation of powers.
Our office cannot provide assistance to private citizens. Many questions regarding housing, employment and other issues are referred to Iowa Legal Aid.