Cedar Rapids judge among appeals court finalists

Governor will pick from the 3 nominees to replace retiring appeals judge

Nov. 10, 2021 4:57 pm

Sixth Judicial District Judge Mary Chicchelly asks a question during an April 2019 hearing in Linn County District Court in Cedar Rapids. (The Gazette)

The State Judicial Nominating Commission conducted interviews Wednesday to fill an upcoming vacancy on the Iowa Court of Appeals in January and three nominees including a 6th Judicial District judge from Cedar Rapids were named.

Judge Mary Chicchelly is among the finalists, along with William Miller, a lawyer with Dorsey and Whitney in Des Moines, and Assistant Iowa Attorney General Mary Triick of Clive. One will be appointed to replace Judge Michael Mullins who will retire Jan. 13. Seven applicants applied for the position. Gov. Kim Reynolds will appoint one of the nominees within 30 days.

This is the second time Chicchelly has been in the top three finalists for the appeals bench. She was a nominee for a vacancy on the court in June. Chicchelly was appointed as a district judge in March 2013. She is graduate of the University of Iowa and the UI College of Law.

The 17-member nominating commission is made up of eight commissioners selected by lawyers licensed to practice law in Iowa and nine commissioners appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Iowa Senate.

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