UPDATES & ANALYSIS

New chief judge elected, and other changes on the Iowa Court of Appeals

by Rox Laird | October 16, 2019

The Iowa Court of Appeals is changing with retirements and the arrival of new members.

Judge Thomas Bower of Cedar Falls has been elected chief judge of the appeals court, the Judicial Branch announced Oct. 10. Judge Bower, appointed to the court in 2012, replaces former Chief Judge Gayle Nelson Vogel who retired July 1.

Judge Julie Schumacher will be sworn in as a member of the court by Gov. Kim Reynolds on Oct. 17 at 3 p.m in the Supreme Court courtroom. Schumacher was appointed to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Vogel.

Meanwhile, on Oct. 29 and 30, the State Judicial Nominating Commission will interview applicants for the court created by the retirement in December of Judge Amanda Potterfield.

The interviews will be in the Supreme Court courtroom. The interviews are open to the public and will be livestreamed and archived on the Iowa Courts YouTube Channel.

The commission will select three nominees to be submitted to the governor, who will make the appointment.

The Court of Appeals reviews civil and criminal actions, post-conviction proceedings, and small-claims actions transferred to it by the Iowa Supreme Court. A decision of the Court of Appeals is final unless the Supreme Court grants further review.

Tags: Iowa Court of Appeals, Judicial Appointments