Judge Farrell, Urbandale, was appointed to the bench in 2013. He was born in Fort Dodge and also lived in Lytton before moving to Carroll and graduating from Carroll High School. He received his BA in 1986 and JD in 1989, both from the University of Iowa. He was a law clerk for the Fifth Judicial District from 1989–1991. Judge Farrell served for twelve years as an assistant attorney general and ten years as an administrative law judge before being appointed to the bench. He is married with two children.