Senior Judge James H. Carter

Judge Carter, Cedar Rapids, served on the Iowa Supreme Court from 1982 to 2006. 

   

He was born in Waverly and spent his childhood in Clarksville. 

  

Judge Carter received his bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa in 1956 and his law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1960.  During law school, he served on the Iowa Law Review as Notes Editor.  He graduated from law school, Order of Coif. 

  

Following graduation, he was a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Henry N. Graven.  Judge Carter worked in private practice with the law firm of Shuttleworth and Ingersoll in Cedar Rapids.  He served as a district court judge from 1973 to 1976.  In 1976, he was appointed to the Iowa Court of Appeals where he served until his appointment to the Iowa Supreme Court. 

  

Judge Carter is married and has two children.  

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Senior Judge Jerry L. Larson  

  

Judge Larson, Harlan, served on the Iowa Supreme Court from 1978 to 2008.  He was the longest-serving member of the bench in Iowa Supreme Court history. 

  

Judge Larson, who was born and raised in Harlan, received his bachelor's degree in 1958 and law degree in 1960 from the University of Iowa. While at law school, he was Editor of the Iowa Law Review. 

  

Following his graduation from law school, he was a law clerk for U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals Federal Judge M.D. Van Oosterhout. 

  

Later, Judge Larson practiced law in Harlan with his father and served two terms as Shelby County Attorney. In 1975, he was appointed a district court judge. He served on the district bench until his appointment to the Iowa Supreme Court. 

  

As a member of the Iowa Supreme Court, Judge Larson played a key role in developing the court's rules for expanded media coverage of Iowa's courts. These rules have served as a model for other states. 

  

Judge Larson is married. He has four children, two of whom are district judges, two stepchildren and twelve grandchildren.  

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Senior Judge Louis A. Lavorato 

  

Judge Louis A. Lavorato, Des Moines, served on the Iowa Supreme Court from 1986 to 2006.  He was Chief Justice from 2000 to 2006. 

  

He received his undergraduate degree and his law degree from Drake University. He was first in his class at Drake Law School, Assistant Editor of the Drake Law Review, and graduated Order of Coif with honors in 1962.  

  

Following law school, Judge Lavorato worked in private practice in the firm of Williams, Hart, Lavorato, and Kirtley, West Des Moines.  He was appointed to the district court in 1979.  He was Chief Judge of the Fifth Judicial District from 1983 to 1986.  Governor Terry Branstad appointed him to the supreme court in 1986. 

  

While on the supreme court, Judge Lavorato chaired the court's subcommittee that reviewed the work of the Equality in the Courts Task Force.  He also chaired the judicial branch team that oversaw the design and construction of the Judicial Branch Building. 

  

Judge Lavorato received a doctor of laws from Drake University Law School in 2003, the Award of Merit of the Iowa Judges Association in 1996, the Drake University Law School Outstanding Alumnus Award in 1994 and the Judicial Achievement Award from the Association of Trial Lawyers of Iowa in 1985. 

  

Judge Lavorato is married.  He has five children, two of whom are attorneys, and four grandchildren.