Capitol Notebook: Iowa Gov. Reynolds appoints her former office attorney to appeals court

DES MOINES — Gov. Kim Reynolds has appointed Sam Langholz, an attorney in the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, to the Iowa Court of Appeals.

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Langholz was the chief deputy in Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird’s office. He was hired as a staff lawyer by former Attorney General Tom Miller, a Democrat.

Before that, Langholz was Reynolds’ staff attorney. He also was the state public defender, an office that coordinates defense statewide for Iowans who cannot afford their own lawyers.

Langholz represented the state and the Reynolds’ administration before the Iowa Supreme Court in defense of statehouse Republicans’ proposed law that would have required a 24-hour waiting period before a woman could have an abortion. That law was struck down by the courts.

In 2021, Langholz represented Reynolds and the state in her federal lawsuit over mandatory face mask use in schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a news release, Reynolds’ office said Langholz has “extensive experience in civil, criminal and appellate law, having practiced in both state and federal courts.”

“I’m pleased to name an accomplished legal mind in Samuel Langholz to the Court of Appeals,” Reynolds said in the news release. “He is a committed public servant with broad experience … and a demonstrated commitment to the craft of legal writing and reasoning.”

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, in a statement, also applauded Langholz’s appointment.

“Sam has a keen legal mind, thoughtful approach to the law and unwavering respect for both our state and federal constitutions,” Bird said. “He has played an integral role through two administrations in the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, advising both former Attorney General Tom Miller and me. I have no doubt that his vast knowledge and experience will make him a valuable member of the court.”

Langholz’s appointment fills a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Anuradha Vaitheswaran.

‘Drive Sober’ push begins Aug. 18

Law enforcement agencies in Iowa will be working to decrease impaired driving during a traffic enforcement partnership planned in the weeks leading up to Labor Day.

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau is partnering with law enforcement agencies on the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” project from Aug. 18 through Sept. 4, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

Officers will be working together to take drunk and drugged drivers off the road, the department said.

“The Drive Sober campaign is an awareness effort to spread the message that impaired driving is illegal, and it takes lives,” Randy Kunert, the law enforcement liaison for the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau, said in the news release.

“Let’s make this a partnership between law enforcement and drivers: Help us protect the community and put an end to this senseless behavior.”

During the final weeks of summer in 2022, Iowa had 40 traffic fatalities, 30 percent of which were alcohol- or drug-related, the public safety department said.

Community college CDL grants

Some $5 million in grants will be given Iowa community college programs that train individuals to receive their commercial driver’s license, or CDL, the state’s workforce department said in a news release.

Applications for the Iowa CDL Infrastructure Grants are due by 2 p.m. Sept. 25, with application forms at iowagrants.gov.

Funds may be used for building, buying or remodeling CDL training infrastructure.

“Here in Iowa, we need to do everything we can to help get more skilled, qualified drivers on the road — and that work has to include easing the pathway to a CDL,” Gov. Kim Reynolds said in the news release.

“With this unique grant program, community colleges will have the opportunity to upgrade facilities, find more space, or purchase newer equipment to keep their program competitive while attracting the Iowans who can help meet the demand for drivers.”