Susan Christensen | |
|---|---|
| Chief Justice of theIowa Supreme Court | |
| Assumed office February 24, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | David Wiggins (Acting) |
| Associate Justice of theIowa Supreme Court | |
| Assumed office September 21, 2018 | |
| Appointed by | Kim Reynolds |
| Preceded by | Bruce B. Zager |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1962-04-27)April 27, 1962 (age 63) Harlan, Iowa, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Judson University (BA) Creighton University (JD) |
Susan Larson Christensen[1] (born April 27, 1962) is an American lawyer who has served as an associate justice of theIowa Supreme Court since 2018 and as the chief justice since 2020.
Christensen received an undergraduate degree inpsychology fromJudson University, where she wasvaledictorian and graduated with highest honors. She then received aJuris Doctor degree cum laude fromCreighton University School of Law.[2]
Christensen practiced law inHarlan, Iowa at the firm Larson, Childs, Hall & Christensen from 1991 to 2003, specializing infamily law.[3] She then worked as asole practitioner specializing in family law from 2003 to 2007. She was also aprosecutor, working as an assistant county attorney forShelby County from 1991 to 2007, forHarrison County from 1996 to 2007, and forCrawford County in 2007.[2]
Christensen was an associate judge for the Iowa Fourth Judicial District from 2007 to 2015 then a district judge for the same district from 2015 until her appointment to the Iowa Supreme Court.[3][4][2]
Christensen was one of three finalists sent to the governor for consideration after the retirement of JusticeBruce B. Zager.[5] In August 2018 GovernorKim Reynolds appointed Christensen to the Iowa Supreme Court.[6] On September 21, 2018, she was sworn into office.[7] Christensen is Reynolds' first appointment to the Iowa Supreme Court.[8] She became the first female since 2011 and the third female overall to join the court.[8]
On February 24, 2020, she was selected to be the chief justice of the Iowa Supreme Court, following the death ofMark Cady.[9]
Christensen was born and raised in Harlan, Iowa where her husband Jay serves as mayor.[3] Her father was former justiceJerry L. Larson who served on the Iowa Supreme Court from 1978 to 2008.[8] Her brother Jeffrey Larson is a judge of the Iowa Fourth Judicial District.[10] She is a registeredRepublican.[3]
| Legal offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Associate Justice of theIowa Supreme Court 2018–present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Chief Justice of theIowa Supreme Court 2020–present | |
Statewide political officials ofIowa | ||
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| U.S. senators |  | |
| State government | ||
| State Senate |
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| State House |
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| Supreme Court (appointed, retained by election) |
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