6th Judicial District swears in newest judge

Paul Miller became the newest 6th Judicial District judge Friday as he was given the official oath of office and his daughters “robed him” for the first time in the Johnson County Courthouse.

Miller had a little trouble with the zipper, which brought loud laughter to the packed courtroom, but with a look of great relief he finally got it zipped up.

“Wow,” Miller said. “I'm usually not emotional, but I'm overwhelmed. I'm always teasing Judge (Fae) Hoover-Grinde but I'm on the verge of crying.”

Miller mostly kept the mood light and talked about his wife of 31 years Mary, and their daughters Alyson Davis, of Houston, Texas, and Lauren Miller, of Minneapolis, Minn.

“I am honored and humbled to accept this position of trust,” Miller said. “I've tried to develop a sense of fairness over the years and promise to bring that fairness into the courthouse every day.”

Miller declined a few requests for interviews because he's shy when it comes to talking about himself but today he promised to give The Gazette an interview this month.

Some of Miller's fellow attorneys were more than happy to give some comments about the judge.

“At the core of Paul, there is just a great human being,” Dean Keegan, Cedar Rapids attorney, said. “He's compassionate and very accomplished prosecutor.”

Joe Moreland, Iowa City attorney and nominating commission board member, said he and another board member, Tim Semelroth, nominated Miller for the position.

“Miller will be a fantastic judge,” Moreland said. “He has the judicial temperament. He's intelligent. He was always available and was a resource for the younger attorneys (in the area).”

Semelroth, a Cedar Rapids attorney, said it will be great to have a judge on the bench with Miller's wide variety of experience. He's been on both sides, the defense and prosecutor. He will be fair to the lawyers and the defendants, he said.

Miller, who was raised in Allison, was recently in private practice at the Miller Law Firm in Iowa City. He attended the University of Northern Iowa, where he received his undergraduate degree, with high distinction, in 1973.

In 1976, he received his law degree from the University of Iowa and then served as an Assistant Woodbury County Attorney until 1978 when he joined the Woodbury Public Defender's Office until 1980.

In 1980, he joined the Area Prosecutions Division of the Iowa Attorney General's Office and then in 1984 joined the Spirit Lake firm Bedell, Ladegard, Maahs & Miller. He practiced here until 1993, when he joined Larson, Miller & Evenson in Iowa City. In 1995, he formed Miller Law Firm.

The judge's vacancy was created when Chief Judge David Remley retired after 16 years of service.