Judge Franklin was appointed to the bench in 2007. He earned his bachelor's degree from Iowa State University and his law degree, with distinction, from the University of Iowa. Judge Franklin served as a Wayne County Attorney from 1982 to 1986 and has also been in private practice since 1979. Judge Franklin is a member of the Wayne County Bar Association, Iowa State Bar Association and the Iowa Judges Association. He also received the Angels in Adoption Award from U.S. Congressional Coalition On Adoption Institute in March 2005.