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Judges

The Iowa Court of Appeals is composed of nine judges.  Appointments to the court are made by the governor from a list of nominees submitted by the State Judicial Nominating Commission.  To be considered for appointment a person must be an attorney licensed to practice in Iowa.   

A court of appeals judge serves an initial term of office that is one year after appointment and until January 1 following the next judicial retention election after expiration of such year.  The regular term of office of judges retained at election is six years.  A judge must retire upon reaching the age of 72.  A retired judge may serve as a senior judge if assigned by the supreme court to the senior judge program.

Every two years, the court of appeals judges elect the chief judge of the court of appeals.  The chief judge serves as the administrative head of the court.

Thomas N. Bower

Chief Judge

Chief Judge Bower, Cedar Falls, was appointed to the Court of Appeals in January 2012. Chief Judge Bower received his bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University in 1984 and his law degree from Drake University in 1987. Chief Judge Bower was appointed to the district associate court bench in 1993...

Mary Tabor

Judge

Judge Tabor, Des Moines, was appointed to the Court of Appeals in 2010. She was born in Maquoketa and raised on her family's farm in Jackson County. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa in 1985. She graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law in...

Sharon Soorholtz Greer

Judge

Judge Soorholtz Greer, Marshalltown, was appointed to the Iowa Court of Appeals in April 2019. She received double undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Child Development from Iowa State University and her law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law. Before her appointment, Judge Soorholtz Greer practiced law with...

Julie Schumacher

Judge

Judge Schumacher, Schleswig, was appointed to the Iowa Court of Appeals in August 2019. She was raised in rural Sioux County, Iowa. Judge Schumacher earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of South Dakota in 1990, double majoring in communications and English. She was awarded her law degree from Creighton...

Paul B. Ahlers

Judge

Judge Ahlers, Fort Dodge, was appointed to the Iowa Court of Appeals in 2019. He was appointed to the district associate bench in 2011. He graduated from Iowa State University with a finance degree in 1991 and from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1994. From 1994 to...

Gina Badding

Judge

Judge Badding, Carroll, was appointed to the Iowa Court of Appeals in July 2021. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Religion with Honors from the University of Iowa in 2001, and her J.D. with Distinction from the University of Iowa in 2004. Her past work experience...

Mary E. Chicchelly

Judge

Judge Chicchelly, Cedar Rapids, was appointed to the Iowa Court of Appeals in December 2021. She was born and raised in Cedar Rapids and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa in 1989 and her J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1992....

Tyler J. Buller

Judge

Judge Buller, Johnston, was appointed to the Court of Appeals in 2022. He earned his undergraduate degree from Drake University and graduated Order of the Coif from the University of Iowa College of Law. Prior to his appointment, Judge Buller prosecuted criminal trials and appeals as an Assistant Attorney General...

Samuel P. Langholz

Judge

Judge Langholz, Ankeny, was appointed to the Iowa Court of Appeals in August 2023. Before his appointment, he practiced law in the Executive Branch of state government for nearly thirteen years, serving as Chief Deputy Attorney General, Assistant Solicitor General, Senior Legal Counsel to the Governor, Chief Administrative Law Judge,...

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