Judge Helen C. Adams has served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Iowa since February 13, 2014. She became Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge in 2017. From 1990 to 2009 she practiced with the firm of Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagen. In 2009 she joined the corporate legal department of Pioneer Hi-Bred International as associate general counsel. Judge Adams is a frequent faculty member for the Federal Judicial Center.