116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Home / Opinion / Staff Columnists
Nine Supreme Court Nominees Picked

Jan. 27, 2011 6:11 pm
From the Judicial Branch:
News ReleaseState Judicial Nominating CommissionJanuary 27, 2011Commission Names Nominees for Iowa Supreme CourtDes Moines, Iowa, January 27, 2011-After completing public interviews of all 60 applicants, the State Judicial Nominating Commission has selected a slate of nine nominees to fill the vacancies on the Iowa Supreme Court that occurred when the terms of Chief Justice Marsha Ternus, Justice Michael Streit and Justice David Baker ended on December 31, 2010. The nominees are:District Judge (appointed 1995)-Fifth Judicial DistrictJ.D., 1975, Drake UniversityDistrict Judge (appointed 1983), Chief Judge (appointed 1995)-Fifth Judicial DistrictJ.D., 1978, University of IowaAttorney-Heidman Law FirmJ.D., 1981, University of IowaAttorney-Law Firm of Steven V. Lawyer & Associates, PLCJ.D., 1991, Drake UniversityIowa Court of Appeals Judge (appointed 2009)J.D., 1982, YaleDistrict Judge (appointed 2002)-Eighth Judicial DistrictJ.D., 1982, Drake UniversityProfessor of Law, University of IowaJ.D., 1997, University of MichiganAttorney-Lane & Waterman L.L.P.J.D., 1984, University of IowaDistrict Judge (appointed 1999)-First Judicial DistrictJ.D., 1980, Drake UniversityGovernor Branstad has thirty days in which to make the appointments to the court from this slate of nominees. 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/
State Judicial Nominating Commission
January 27, 2011
Commission Names Nominees for Iowa Supreme Court
Des Moines, Iowa, January 27, 2011-After completing public interviews of all 60 applicants, the State Judicial Nominating Commission has selected a slate of nine nominees to fill the vacancies on the Iowa Supreme Court that occurred when the terms of Chief Justice Marsha Ternus, Justice Michael Streit and Justice David Baker ended on December 31, 2010. The nominees are:
Robert James Blink, West Des Moines, Age 60
District Judge (appointed 1995)-Fifth Judicial District
J.D., 1975, Drake University
Arthur E. Gamble, Clive, Age 58
District Judge (appointed 1983), Chief Judge (appointed 1995)-Fifth Judicial District
J.D., 1978, University of Iowa
John C. Gray, Sioux City, Age 56
Attorney-Heidman Law Firm
J.D., 1981, University of Iowa
Steven Verne Lawyer, New Virginia, Age 45
Attorney-Law Firm of Steven V. Lawyer & Associates, PLC
J.D., 1991, Drake University
Edward M. Mansfield, Des Moines, Age 53
Iowa Court of Appeals Judge (appointed 2009)
J.D., 1982, Yale
Michael R. Mullins, Washington, Age 58
District Judge (appointed 2002)-Eighth Judicial District
J.D., 1982, Drake University
Angela Onwuachi-Willig, Grinnell, Age 37
Professor of Law, University of Iowa
J.D., 1997, University of Michigan
Thomas Dana Waterman, Pleasant Valley, Age 51
Attorney-Lane & Waterman L.L.P.
J.D., 1984, University of Iowa
Bruce B. Zager, Waterloo, Age 58
District Judge (appointed 1999)-First Judicial District
J.D., 1980, Drake University
Governor Branstad has thirty days in which to make the appointments to the court from this slate of nominees. 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/
Archived video of each of the applicant interviews is available at kcci.com.
(DLR Group)
Opinion content represents the viewpoint of the author or The Gazette editorial board. You can join the conversation by submitting a letter to the editor or guest column or by suggesting a topic for an editorial to editorial@thegazette.com