Twenty-Six Iowans Apply for Court of Appeals

Des Moines, April 27, 2011— Twenty-six Iowans have applied with the State Judicial Nominating Commission to fill the vacancy on the Iowa Court of Appeals that occurred when Judge Edward Mansfield was appointed to the Iowa Supreme Court.

The nominating commission will meet on May 9 and 10, 2011, in the Iowa Supreme Court Courtroom on the fourth floor of the Judicial Branch Building to interview the applicants. The public is invited to observe the interviews in the courtroom. Immediately following the interviews, the commission will begin deliberations to select a slate of three nominees from the group of applicants. Once the commission selects its slate of nominees, the commission will forward those names to the governor. The governor will then have thirty (30) days in which to appoint a new judge.

A summary resume, completed questionnaire and writing samples for each candidate will be posted on the Judicial Branch website on Monday, May 2, 2011 at:

www.iowacourts.gov/State_Judicial_Nominating_Commission/Application_Information/

The commission welcomes written comments from the public about the qualifications of any of the applicants. Comments must be submitted to the State Court Administrator, who serves as the commission secretary, by May 6, 2011. Comments may be e-mailed to SupCtNom@iowacourts.gov. Comments may also be mailed to the State Court Administrator, Iowa Judicial Branch Building, 1111 E. Court Ave., Des Moines, Iowa 50319.

The 15-member commission is composed of a chair, who is the senior justice of the supreme court other than the chief justice, seven lawyer commissioners elected by lawyers licensed to practice law in Iowa and seven non-lawyer commissioners appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Iowa Senate. With the exception of the commission chair, membership on the commission is limited to one six-year term. Terms are staggered. The Iowa Constitution requires that commission members be chosen without regard to political affiliation.

The applicants for the court are:

Craig Charles Ament, Cedar Falls, Age 55
Attorney—Ament Law Firm
J.D., 1980, University of Iowa

Steven August Berger, Bettendorf, Age 51
Attorney— Wehr, Berger, Lane and Stevens
J.D., 1985, University of Iowa

John William Bernau, Manchester, Age 49
Delaware County Attorney
J.D., 1990, University of Iowa

Nathan Alden Callahan, Cedar Falls, Age 58
District Associate Judge (appointed 2000)—First District
J.D., 1984, Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College

Susan Christensen, Harlan, Age 49
District Associate Judge (appointed 2007)—Fourth Judicial District
J.D., 1991, Creighton University

George F. Davison, Jr., Des Moines, Age 61
Attorney—Davison Law
J.D., 1979, Drake University

Diane Linda Dornburg, Urbandale, Age 59
Attorney—Carney and Appleby, P.L.C.
J.D., 1976, University of Michigan

Thomas James Duff, Des Moines, Age 48
Attorney—Duff Law Firm, P.L.C.
J.D., 1988, Drake University

Sharon Soorholtz Greer, Marshalltown, Age 55
Attorney—Cartwright, Druker & Ryden, Marshalltown
J.D., 1982, University of Iowa

David James Hanson, Fayette, Age 49
Attorney—Hoffmeyer & Hanson PC
J.D., 1987, Drake University

Peter Christopher Hart, Emmetsburg, Age 58
Assistant County Attorney for Dickinson and Emmet counties
J.D., 1979, DePaul University

Patrick J. Hopkins, Urbandale, Age 60
Attorney—Hopkins Law Office, P.L.C.
J.D., 1975, Creighton University

Michael Ray Keller, Des Moines, Age 50
Attorney—Schott Mauss & Associates, P.C.
J.D., 1987, University of Virginia

Bruce Kempkes, Earlham, Age 55
Assistant Attorney General
J.D., 1980, University of Iowa

David L. Leitner, Johnston, Age 55
Attorney—Leitner Law Office
J.D., 1979, University of Iowa

Kellyann M. Lekar, Waterloo, Age 43
District Judge (appointed 2005)—First Judicial District
J.D., 1993, University of Iowa

Don Richard McGuire Jr., Algona, Age 52
General Counsel—Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company
J.D., 1993, University of Indiana

James Paul Moriarty, Cedar Rapids, Age, 55
Attorney—James P. Moriarty, PC
J.D., 1982, Suffolk University

Michael R. Mullins, Washington, Age 58
District Judge (appointed 2002)—Eighth Judicial District
J.D., 1982, Drake University

Iris J. Post, Des Moines, Age 54
Attorney—Bradshaw, Fowler, Proctor & Fairgrave, P.C.,
J.D., 1980, University of Iowa

Elisabeth S. Reynoldson, Osceola, Age 43
Assistant Attorney General
J.D., 1992, University of Iowa

Frank Cal Tenuta, Sioux City, Age 51
Managing Attorney, Iowa Legal Aid
J.D., 1985, University of Minnesota

Greta Truman, Waukee, Age 40
Assistant State Public Defender
J.D., 1996, University of Iowa

Janece Valentine, Fort Dodge, Age 43
Attorney—Valentine Law Office, P.C.
J.D., 1992, University of Iowa

Jeanie Kunkle Vaudt, West Des Moines, Age 57
Assistant Attorney General
J.D., 1991, Drake University

ConGarry D. Williams, West Des Moines, Age 45
Assistant Public Defender
J.D., 2000, Drake University