Cedar Rapids judge a finalist for Iowa Court of Appeals appointment

DES MOINES — A Cedar Rapids district court judge is one of the three judges being recommended for appointment to the Iowa Court of Appeals.

The 17-member State Judicial Nominating Commission interviewed applicants for the opening Friday and forwarded the three finalists to Gov. Kim Reynolds, who will make the appointment within 30 days.

The finalists are Judge Mary Chicchelly of Cedar Rapids, Judge Gina Badding of Carroll and Judge Joel Barrows of Bettendorf.

Chicchelly was appointed a judge in the 6th Judicial District in March 2013. She is graduate of the University of Iowa and the UI College of Law.

The commission has eight commissioners elected for Iowa lawyers and nine commissioners appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Iowa Senate.

The Iowa Court of Appeals does not preside over trials, but hears appeals of cases heard in Iowa’s district courts.