Branstad to announce three Supreme Court appointments by Saturday

Gov. Terry Branstad has completed his interviews of nominees for three openings on the Iowa Supreme Court and will announce his three appointments by Feb. 26.

Branstad has completed his interviews with nine nominees for the three vacancies and now his staff is conducting “extensive reviews” of information received on each of them, he said Feb. 21.

Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, Chief of Staff Jeff Boeyink and legal counsel Brenna Findley also participated in the interviews, he said.

He again expressed disappointment that only one woman - Angela Onwuachi-Willig of Grinnell - of the 11 woman who applied was nominated. He noted that she had just been licensed to practice shortly before applying for the post.

Among the other women to apply was a court of appeals judge, a district court judge and women who served in Branstad's previous administrations.

“But I've got nine to choose from,” he said. “I'll give this a lot of thought and choose the best three.”

The vacancies occurred after Chief Justice Marsha Ternus and Justices Michael Streit and David Baker were voted out of office in November. They were the targets of social conservatives who disagreed with the court's unanimous decision to strike down the state ban on gay marriage.

The nominees are: Robert James Blink, West Des Moines; Arthur E. Gamble, Clive; John C. Gray, Sioux City; Steven Verne Lawyer, New Virginia; Edward M. Mansfield, Des Moines; Michael R. Mullins, Washington; Angela Onwuachi-Willig, Grinnell; Thomas Dana Waterman, Pleasant Valley; and Bruce B. Zager, Waterloo.

A summary resume, completed questionnaire and writing samples for each candidate are posted on the Judicial Branch website at:

www.iowacourts.gov/State_Judicial_Nominating_Commission/Application_Information.