On Friday, October 31, 2025, the Iowa Supreme Court suspended attorney Benjamin James Bragg’s license to practice law for 30 days, following an affidavit in which Bragg consented to the suspension.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Benjamin James Bragg,” with case number 25–1599.
Bragg voluntarily agreed to the suspension, acknowledging an ongoing investigation by the Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board into potential grounds for disciplinary action. The affidavit, filed with the Grievance Commission, detailed three separate Attorney Disciplinary Board (ADB) investigations: ADB No. 2024-24124, ADB No. 2024-24298, and ADB No. 2025-25002.
In ADB No. 2024-24124, Bragg was appointed to a case in May 2023 but failed to properly file a corrected combined certificate despite court instructions. This led to delays in ordering transcripts and subsequent missed deadlines for filing briefs and appendices. Ultimately, Bragg was removed from the appeal. The board faced difficulties serving Bragg due to inaccurate address information provided to the Office of Professional Regulation.
ADB No. 2024-24298 stemmed from Bragg’s appointment to multiple cases in Polk County in September 2024. He failed to attend a scheduled pre-trial conference in November, resulting in his removal from the cases and a contempt of court finding for which he was fined.
ADB No. 2025-25002 involved Bragg’s failure to appear at pre-trial conferences and arraignments in several Polk County cases between July and December 2024. In one instance, the court noted that it was unable to contact Bragg, leading to the appointment of new counsel.
Bragg admitted that his actions delayed proceedings and consumed judicial resources. He cited complex-post-traumatic stress syndrome (complex-PTSD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and major depressive disorder as factors impacting his ability to manage his practice, meet deadlines, and respond to the Board’s complaints. He acknowledged that he should have withdrawn from cases when his symptoms began affecting his performance.
While not excusing his behavior, Bragg presented these conditions as mitigating factors. He noted that he has been receiving mental health treatment since 2013, with symptoms becoming more acute in recent years due to personal circumstances. He expressed shame and regret for his actions and outlined plans to develop an action plan to prevent future issues, including seeking professional mentorship and therapeutic support.
Aggravating factors included a prior public reprimand in May 2023 for filing initial written arraignments without consulting clients and a private admonishment in November 2023 for failing to comply with deadlines in multiple appeals. Bragg consented to potential alternative sanctions, including a follow-up substance abuse evaluation or a letter from a medical provider verifying his fitness to practice law.
The Iowa Supreme Court’s order, in accordance with Iowa Court Rule 34.16(3), suspends Bragg’s license for 30 days, beginning ten days from the filing of the order. Bragg is responsible for the costs associated with the action and must comply with notification requirements. He is eligible to apply for reinstatement after the suspension period, unless objections are raised by the Board or the Client Security Commission.
According to Avvo, Mr. Bragg is a criminal defense lawyer in Clive, IA. He acquired his law license in Iowa in 2012.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
