Culver appoints Thornhill to bench

DES MOINES – Iowa Gov. Chet Culver appointed Ian Thornhill Friday to serve as a district judge in Iowa's 6th Judicial District.

Thornhill currently serves as an assistant U.S. attorney in Cedar Rapids.

He graduated in 1998 from the University of Iowa's College of Law. He also earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Iowa.

After earning his law degree, Thornhill served on active duty in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps until 2002. He continues to serve in the Reserve J.A.G. Corps, and returned to active duty to serve on the Law & Order Task Force in Iraq from 2007 to 2008.

Thornhill replaces District Judge Thomas Koehler, who retired.

Iowa's 6th Judicial District includes Tama, Benton, Linn, Jones, Iowa, and Johnson counties.