The Iowa Court of Appeals has elected Mary Tabor, Des Moines, as chief judge. Chief Judge Tabor has served on the court of appeals since 2010. She is the eleventh chief judge since the state legislature established the Iowa Court of Appeals in 1976. She replaces Chief Judge Thomas Bower, who recently retired.
"Serving on the Iowa Court of Appeals has been my great honor," Chief Judge Tabor said. "Our judges and staff are dedicated to doing justice for the people of Iowa. And I’m truly grateful for the chance to continue contributing to that important work as chief judge."
Chief Judge Tabor was born in Maquoketa and raised on her family's farm in Jackson County. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa in 1985 and graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1991.
Judge Tabor worked as a staff attorney in the Office of General Counsel for the Federal Election Commission in Washington, D.C., from 1991 to 1993. She joined the Iowa Attorney General's Office in 1993 and served as director of the Criminal Appeals Division from 1999 to 2010.
Judge Tabor is a member of several professional organizations including the Polk County Bar Association, the Iowa State Bar Association, Iowa Judges Association, American Law Institute, Blackstone Inn of Court, Iowa Organization of Women Attorneys, and Polk County Women Attorneys. Judge Tabor is married and has two sons and one daughter.
The Iowa Court of Appeals is a nine-member intermediate appellate court that reviews appeals from trial court decisions transferred by the supreme court. A decision by this court is final unless reviewed by the Iowa Supreme Court upon further review.
In addition to day-to-day judicial duties, the Chief Judge supervises court business, presides at sessions when present, and serves on the judicial council. Chief Judge Tabor will carry out these duties while continuing to review cases and author opinions.
Previous Chief Judges of the Iowa Court of Appeals:
- 1976-1978: Chief Judge Robert Allbee
- 1978-1994: Chief Judge Leo Oxberger
- 1994-1996: Chief Judge Allen Donielson
- 1996: Chief Judge Rosemary Sackett
- 1997: Chief Judge Albert Habhab
- 1997-1998: Chief Justice Mark Cady
- 1999-2012: Chief Judge Rosemary Sackett
- 2012-2013: Chief Judge Larry J. Eisenhauer
- 2013-2019: Chief Judge David Danilson
- 2019: Chief Judge Gayle Nelson Vogel
- 2019-2024: Chief Judge Thomas Bower