Iowa Court of Appeals
| Iowa Court of Appeals | |||
 | |||
| Court information | |||
| Judges: | 9 | ||
| Salary: | Associates: $182,709[1] | ||
| Judicial selection | |||
| Method: | Assisted appointment | ||
| Term: | 6 years | ||
| Published opinions | |||
TheIowa Court of Appeals, composed of nine judges, is theintermediate appellate court inIowa. The court hears cases assigned to it by theIowa Supreme Court and reviews appeals from the trial courts in the state. Most of the appeals filed in Iowa are heard by the Iowa Court of Appeals, and its decisions are final unless granted further review by theIowa Supreme Court.
Judges
| Judge | Tenure | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|
June 9, 2010 - Present | Chet Culver | |
August 7, 2021 - Present | Kim Reynolds | |
2019 - Present | Kim Reynolds | |
December 25, 2019 - Present | Kim Reynolds | |
2019 - Present | Kim Reynolds | |
August 2, 2024 - Present | Kim Reynolds | |
January 14, 2022 - Present | Kim Reynolds | |
October 26, 2022 - Present | Kim Reynolds | |
August 10, 2023 - Present | Kim Reynolds |
Senior judges
- Thomas N. Bower
- Gayle Vogel
- Amanda Potterfield
- Richard Doyle
- Michael R. Mullins
- Patrick Carr
- John D. Telleen
Salary
- See also:Iowa court salaries and budgets
In 2025, the associate judges of the court received a salary of $182,709, according to the National Center for State Courts.[2]
Judicial selection
- See also:Judicial selection in Iowa
Thenine justices on theIowa Court of Appeals are selected through theassisted appointment method. When a vacancy occurs on the court of appeals, the State Judicial Nominating Commission submits a list of five potential nominees to the governor, who appoints one to serve as a judge.
Newly appointed judges serve for one year after their appointment. They must then compete in a yes-noretention election (occurring during the regularly scheduled general election) if they wish to remain on the court. They then serve six-year terms.[3]
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:[3]
- licensed to practice law in the state;
- a member of the Iowa bar;
- a resident of the state, district, or county to which they are appointed; and
- under the age of 72.
Note: Retirement at 72 ismandatory, though older judges may apply to become asenior judge. Senior judges must work a minimum of 13 weeks a year and are to receive a monthly retirement annuity and an annual stipend. They must retire at age 78 (or 80, if reappointed by the supreme court for additional one-year terms).[4]
Chief judge
The chief judge of the court of appeals is elected by peer vote and serves a two-year term.[3]
Vacancies
If a midterm vacancy occurs on the court, the seat is filled as it normally would be if the vacancy occurred at the end of a judge's term. A judicial nominating commission recommends qualified candidates to the governor and the governor selects a successor from that list. The new appointee serves for at least one year and then stands for retention.[5]
Elections
See also: Iowa intermediate appellate court elections, 2030
Mary Tabor's seat
There are noofficial candidates yet for this election.
Samuel Langholz's seat
There are noofficial candidates yet for this election.
Mary Chicchelly's seat
There are noofficial candidates yet for this election.
Tyler Buller's seat
There are noofficial candidates yet for this election.
See also: Iowa intermediate appellate court elections, 2028
Paul Ahlers' seat
There are noofficial candidates yet for this election.
Gina Badding's seat
There are noofficial candidates yet for this election.
See also: Iowa intermediate appellate court elections, 2026
Thomas Bower's seat
There are noofficial candidates yet for this election.
Sharon Soorholtz Greer's seat
There are noofficial candidates yet for this election.
Julie Schumacher's seat
There are noofficial candidates yet for this election.
See also: Iowa intermediate appellate court elections, 2024
Mary Tabor's seat
Iowa Court of Appeals
Mary Tabor was retained tothe Iowa Court of Appeals onNovember 5, 2024 with 70.8% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 70.8 | 804,390 |
| No | 29.2 | 331,159 | |
| Total Votes | 1,135,549 |
 | The results have been certified. Source |
Tyler Buller's seat
Iowa Court of Appeals
Tyler Buller was retained tothe Iowa Court of Appeals onNovember 5, 2024 with 68.1% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 68.1 | 769,806 |
| No | 31.9 | 361,356 | |
| Total Votes | 1,131,162 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
Mary Chicchelly's seat
Iowa Court of Appeals
Mary Chicchelly was retained tothe Iowa Court of Appeals onNovember 5, 2024 with 69.3% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 69.3 | 785,925 |
| No | 30.7 | 347,541 | |
| Total Votes | 1,133,466 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
Samuel Langholz's seat
Iowa Court of Appeals
Samuel Langholz was retained tothe Iowa Court of Appeals onNovember 5, 2024 with 64.9% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 64.9 | 734,532 |
| No | 35.1 | 397,742 | |
| Total Votes | 1,132,274 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
See also: Iowa intermediate appellate court elections, 2022
Ahlers' seat
Iowa Court of Appeals
Paul B. Ahlers was retained tothe Iowa Court of Appeals onNovember 8, 2022 with 70.2% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 70.2 | 600,254 |
| No | 29.8 | 255,318 | |
| Total Votes | 855,572 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
Badding's seat
Iowa Court of Appeals
Gina Badding was retained tothe Iowa Court of Appeals onNovember 8, 2022 with 70.7% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 70.7 | 602,581 |
| No | 29.3 | 249,206 | |
| Total Votes | 851,787 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
See also: Iowa intermediate appellate court elections, 2020
Greer's seat
Iowa Court of Appeals
Sharon Soorholtz Greer was retained tothe Iowa Court of Appeals onNovember 3, 2020 with 74.2% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 74.2 | 825,999 |
| No | 25.8 | 287,186 | |
| Total Votes | 1,113,185 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
Schumacher's seat
Iowa Court of Appeals
Julie Schumacher was retained tothe Iowa Court of Appeals onNovember 3, 2020 with 76.2% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 76.2 | 856,450 |
| No | 23.8 | 267,699 | |
| Total Votes | 1,124,149 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
May's seat
Iowa Court of Appeals
David May was retained tothe Iowa Court of Appeals onNovember 3, 2020 with 73.2% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 73.2 | 812,162 |
| No | 26.8 | 297,854 | |
| Total Votes | 1,110,016 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
Bower's seat
Iowa Court of Appeals
Thomas N. Bower was retained tothe Iowa Court of Appeals onNovember 3, 2020 with 73.4% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 73.4 | 817,409 |
| No | 26.6 | 295,628 | |
| Total Votes | 1,113,037 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
See also: Iowa intermediate appellate court elections, 2018
Anuradha Vaitheswaran's seat
Iowa Court of Appeals
Anuradha Vaitheswaran was retained tothe Iowa Court of Appeals onNovember 6, 2018 with 70.0% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 70.0 | 652,687 |
| No | 30.0 | 279,208 | |
| Total Votes | 931,895 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
Mary Tabor's seat
Iowa Court of Appeals
Mary Tabor was retained tothe Iowa Court of Appeals onNovember 6, 2018 with 76.1% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 76.1 | 720,549 |
| No | 23.9 | 225,736 | |
| Total Votes | 946,285 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
Michael R. Mullins' seat
Iowa Court of Appeals
Michael R. Mullins was retained tothe Iowa Court of Appeals onNovember 6, 2018 with 75.2% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 75.2 | 707,853 |
| No | 24.8 | 232,844 | |
| Total Votes | 940,697 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
Ethics
TheIowa Code of Judicial Conduct sets forth ethical guidelines and principles for the conduct of judges and judicial candidates inIowa. It consists of four overarching canons:
| “ |
| ” |
The full text of theIowa Code of Judicial Conduct can be foundhere.
Removal of judges
Judges inIowa may be removed in one of two ways:
- A judge may be removed via impeachment by a majority vote of the members of theIowa House of Representatives and then a conviction by a two-thirds vote of theIowa State Senate.
- The Iowa Judicial Qualification Commission hears allegations of misconducts, investigates, and then submits a recommendation to theIowa Supreme Court that a judge be removed from the bench, disciplined, or retired.[8]
Noteworthy cases
| • One-punch murder conviction overturned (2015) | Click for summary→ | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent Tyler punched Richard Daughenbaugh just one time after Daughenbaugh grabbed his arm. After that punch, however, the large group of people partying in the parking lot attacked Daughenbaugh, leaving him fatally injured. Tyler was convicted of second-degree murder, however, and was sentenced to 50 years in prison. At his sentencing, Tyler told the judge he punched Daughenbaugh in self defense and should not be held responsible for the actions of those around him. TheIowa Court of Appeals overturned Tyler's conviction, sending the case back to the district court for an acquittal to be entered. JudgeAmanda Potterfield wrote the majority opinion for the split three-judge panel. The opinion stated that one punch was not murder in this case as there was no evidence Tyler meant to incite his friends to attack Daughenbaugh.
Chief JudgeDavid Danilson dissented from the majority, finding Tyler's punch to have been instigation for the attack. He pointed to a witness' testimony that the atmosphere appeared to be rife with tension. Therefore, Tyler could have known that the punch would lead to a more violent attack on Daughenbaugh. Articles: | |||||||
State profile
| Demographic data for Iowa | ||
|---|---|---|
| Iowa | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 3,121,997 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 55,857 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 91.2% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 3.2% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 2% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 2% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 5.4% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 91.5% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 26.7% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $53,183 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 13.8% | 11.3% |
| Source:U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Clickhere for more information on the 2020 census andhere for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Iowa. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the censushere. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
- See also:Presidential voting trends in Iowa
Iowavoted for the Republican candidate in four out of the seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
Pivot Counties (2016)
Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted forDonald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting forBarack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won thesePivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, 31 are located in Iowa, accounting for 15.04 percent of the total pivot counties.[10]
Pivot Counties (2020)
In2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won asRetained Pivot Counties and those won byJoe Biden (D) asBoomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Iowa had 31 Retained Pivot Counties, 17.13 percent of all Retained Pivot Counties.
More Iowa coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in Iowa
- United States congressional delegations from Iowa
- Public policy in Iowa
- Endorsers in Iowa
- Iowa fact checks
- More...
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑The salary of the chief judge may be higher than an associate judge.
- ↑National Center for State Courts, "2025 Salaries and Rankings," accessed October 8, 2025
- ↑3.03.13.2National Center for State Courts, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Iowa," September 13, 2021
- ↑Iowa Legislature, "Judicial Retirement System," updated September 2015
- ↑Iowa Judicial Nominating Commissions, "State Judicial Nominating Commission," accessed September 13, 2021
- ↑Iowa Judicial Branch, "Iowa Code of Judicial Conduct," accessed September 20, 2021
- ↑7.07.1Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑National Center For State Courts, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Removal of Judges," accessed September 20, 2021
- ↑Des Moines Register, "Appeals court overturns Des Moines man's murder conviction," April 22, 2015
- ↑The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip ofAtlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
Federal courts:
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court:Northern District of Iowa,Southern District of Iowa • U.S. Bankruptcy Court:Northern District of Iowa,Southern District of Iowa
State courts:
Iowa Supreme Court•Iowa Court of Appeals•Iowa district courts
State resources:
Courts in Iowa •Iowa judicial elections •Judicial selection in Iowa
