James Carter

JAMES H. CARTER

Cedar Rapids

James H. Carter, 81, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids. The family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids. Memorial services: 11 a.m. Thursday, March 3, at the funeral home. Private family inurnment: Oak Shade Cemetery, Marion.

For 24 years, Jim Carter served the state of Iowa as a Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court. He was one of Iowa's great legal minds. Jim grew up in Clarksville, Butler County, Iowa. He graduated from Clarksville High School in 1952, the University of Iowa in 1956 and the University of Iowa College of Law in 1960.

Jim established his permanent home in Cedar Rapids in 1962, practicing law with the Shuttleworth & Ingersoll law firm until his appointment to the Iowa District Court in 1973. When the state created the Iowa Court of Appeals in 1976, then-Gov. Robert D. Ray appointed him an original member of that court. In 1982, Ray appointed him to the high court.

He is survived by Jeanne E. Carter, his wife of 50 years; children, Carol (Hans) Carter-Wientjes and James (Janna) Carter; and three grandchildren.

Jim was a loyal fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes. He belonged to an exclusive club, fans who attended a Hawkeye Rose Bowl victory. At the age of 45, he camped outside the Iowa Field House for days with a chaise lounge and sleeping bag, in order to get tickets to see the Hawkeye basketball team play in the NCAA Final Four.

He will be remembered for great intellect and wit and even greater humility.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Iowa Public Television, http://site.iptv.org/friends, in Jim's memory.

Please share a memory of Jim at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.