Gov. Branstad names Cedar Rapids attorney Bruns as new 6th Judicial District judge

Gov. Terry Branstad appointed a Cedar Rapids attorney Christopher Bruns Wednesday to serve as the new 6th Judicial District judge.

Branstad also announced that David P. Odekirk will be appointed as judge to the 1B Judicial District.

Bruns, of Cedar Rapids, received his undergraduate and law degrees from Drake University and is currently in private practice with Elderkin and Pirnie. He was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Nancy A. Baumgartner.

Baumgartner is retiring after serving 20 years on the bench. She will take senior judge status in January.

District 6 consists of Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn, and Tama counties.

Odekirk, of Waterloo, received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Iowa and currently is engaged in private practice.

Bruns, who has been with Elderkin and Pirnie since 1994, received his law degree from Drake University Law School in 1991. He was an associate with the Tom Riley Law Firm before joining Elderkin.

Odekirk was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Stephen C. Clarke.

District 1 consists of Allamakee, Black Hawk, Buchanan, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Grundy, Howard, and Winneshiek counties.

The 6th Judicial District Nominating Commission interviewed 14 applicants for the impending vacancy in November.

Rod Boshart of The Gazette also contributed to this report