Eighteen Iowans have applied with the State Judicial Nominating Commission to fill the vacancy on the Iowa Court of Appeals arising from the retirement of Chief Judge Thomas Bower.
The State Judicial Nominating Commission has posted the interview schedule for the applicants. The interview schedule and applications, including writing samples, will also be available on the State Judicial Nominating Commission website at https://www.iowajnc.gov/state-commission/state-members-and-vacancies.
The commission welcomes written comments from the public regarding the qualifications of any of the applicants. Comments must be submitted via email no later than 11:59 P.M. on May 23, 2024, to commission members at addresses listed on their website and to the Secretary of the commission at [email protected]. It should be noted that comments may be subject to disclosure under Iowa’s Open Records Laws.
The commission will meet on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in the Iowa Supreme Court Courtroom located on the fourth floor of the Judicial Branch Building to conduct interviews. The public is invited to observe these interviews in person or via live stream on the Iowa Judicial Branch YouTube channel. Videos will remain archived until a nominee is selected by the Governor.
Following the interviews, deliberations will commence immediately to select a slate of five nominees from among the applicants. Once chosen, these names will be forwarded to Governor Kim Reynolds, who will have thirty days to appoint a new judge.
The 17-member commission includes eight commissioners elected by lawyers licensed in Iowa and nine commissioners appointed by Governor Reynolds and confirmed by the Iowa Senate. A full list of commissioners can be found on their website.
List of Applicants and Interview Schedule for Wednesday, May 29, 2024:
9:00 a.m. Karen Kaufman Salic, District Associate Judge, Second Judicial District, Goodell
9:20 a.m. Aaron Ahrendsen, Attorney, Eich Werden Steger & Ahrendsen PC; Assistant Carroll County Attorney, Manning
9:40 a.m. Heather Quick, First Assistant Federal Public Defender; Appellate Chief, Iowa Federal Public Defender’s Office, Cedar Rapids
10:00 a.m. Amy Moore, District Court Judge, Second Judicial District, Ames
10:20 a.m. Jeffrey Farrell, District Court Judge, Fifth Judicial District, Urbandale
10:40 a.m. BREAK
10:50 a.m. Jeffrey Bert, District Court Judge Seventh Judicial District Bettendorf
11:10 a.m Christopher Spencer Attorney Peddicord Wharton LLP Des Moines
11:30 a.m David Faith District Court Judge Fifth Judicial District Indianola
11:50 a.m Thomas Mayes General Counsel Iowa Department of Education Des Moines
12:10 p.m LUNCH
1:00 p.m John Gish Chief Victim Assistance Section Iowa Attorney General’s Office Adel
1:20 p.m Adam Witosky Attorney Gribble Boles Stewart & Witosky Law West Des Moines
1:40 p.m Alan Heavens District Court Judge First Judicial District Garnavillo
2:00 p.m Aaron Lindebak Attorney Grefe & Sidney P.L.C., Des Moines
2:20 p.m John Sandy District Court Judge Third Judicial District Spirit Lake
2:40 p.m BREAK
2:50 p.m Henry Latham District Court Judge Seventh Judicial District Eldridge
3:10 p.m Maura Sailer Attorney Lohman Reitz Sailer Ullrich & Blazek Denison
3:30 p.m Christopher Kemp District Court Judge Fifth Judicial District Grimes
3:50 p.m Shawn Showers District Court Judge Eighth Judicial District Washington
Janece M. Valentine
515-955-5544
[email protected]