Iowa Supreme Court

The Iowa Supreme Court is the highest court in Iowa. Its justices are chosen by gubernatorial appointment from a nominating commission, followed by retention elections. This page lists every justice to serve on the court, current and former, with when they joined the bench and whom they succeeded.

Current bench verified against the court’s official roster, 2026-07-02.

Current justices

• SCChief JusticeSusan Christensen2018
• EM Edward M. Mansfield2011
• TW Thomas D. Waterman2011
• CM Christopher McDonald2019
• MM Matthew McDermott2020
• DO Dana Oxley2020
• DM David May2022

Former justices

Justice	Years
BZBruce B. Zager	2011
DBDavid L. Baker	2008–2010
BABrent R. Appel	2006
DHDaryl L. Hecht	2006
DWDavid Wiggins	2003
MSMichael J. Streit	2001–2010
Mark S. Cady	1998
MTMarsha K. Ternus	1993–2010
JAJames H. Andreasen	1987–1998
LLLouis A. Lavorato	1986–2006
LNLinda K. Neuman	1986–2003
CWCharles Robert Wolle	1983–1987
JCJames Harvey Carter	1982–2006
LSLouis W. Schultz	1980–1993
RARobert G. Allbee	1978–1982
JLJerry L. Larson	1978–2013
AMArthur A. McGiverin	1978–2000
KHK David Harris	1972–1999
MMMark McCormick	1972–1986
WRW. Ward Reynoldson	1971–1987
HUHarvey Uhlenhopp	1970–1986
WRWarren J. Rees	1969–1980
CLClay LeGrand	1967–1983
FBFrancis H. Becker	1965–1972
MMM.L. Mason	1965–1978
MRMaurice E. Rawlings	1965–1978
CMC Edwin Moore	1962–1978
WSWilliam Corwin Stuart	1962–1971
BSBruce M. Snell	1961–2001
TTT Eugene Thornton	1959–1967
HGHarry G. Garrett	1958–1960
LLLuke E. Linnan	1958–1958
HPHenry K - changed from F Peterson	1955–1965
RLRobert L. Larson	1953–1971
GTG King Thompson	1951–1965
NHNorman R. Hays	1946–1965
HMHalleck J. Mantz	1943–1953
JMJohn E. Mulroney	1943–1955
WSWilliam A. Smith	1943–1958
TGTheodore G. Garfield	1941–1969
CWCharles F. Wennerstrum	1941–1958
WBWilliam L. Bliss	1939–1962
OHOscar Hale	1939–1950
FMFrederick M. Miller	1939–1946
RORalph A. Oliver	1938–1962
ESEdward A. Sager	1937–1942
CSCarl B. Stiger	1936–1942
WHWilson H. Hamilton	1935–1940
JPJames M. Parsons	1935–1937
PRPaul W. Richards	1935–1940
LPLeon W. Powers	1934–1936
JAJohn W. Anderson	1933–1938
MDMaurice F. Donegan	1933–1938
JKJohn W. kintzinger	1933–1938
GCGeorge C. Chaussen	1932–1934
RMRichard F. Mitchell	1932–1942
HUHubert Utterback	1932–1933
JGJohn M. Grimm	1929–1932
JKJames W. Kindig	1927–1934
HWHenry F. Wagner	1927–1932
EAElma G. Albert	1925–1936
EMEdgar A. Morling	1925–1932
CVCharles W. Vermilion	1923–1927
LGLawrence De Graff	1921–1932
FFFrederick F. Faville	1921–1932
TAThomas Arthur	1920–1925
TSTruman S. Stevens	1917–1934
BSBenjamin I. Salinger	1915–1920
FGFrank R. Gaynor	1913–1920
BPByron W. Preston	1913–1924
WEWilliam D. Evans	1908–1934
CBCharles A. Bishop	1902–1908
SWSilas M. Weaver	1902–1923
JSJohn C. Sherwin	1900–1912
HDHorace E. Deemer	1894–1917
JGJosiah Given	1889–1901
AAAustin Adams	1876–1887
WSWilliam H. Seevers	1876–1888
JBJoseph M. Beck	1868–1891
CCChester C. Cole	1864–1876
JDJohn Forrest Dillon	1864–1869
CBCaleb Baldwin	1860–1863

How a justice reaches this court. Justices of the Iowa Supreme Court are appointed by the governor to 8-year terms and then face yes-or-no retention elections. The State Judicial Nominating Commission sends nominees to the governor, who appoints; justices then face yes-or-no retention elections for eight-year terms. Selection methods vary by jurisdiction and have changed over time; this page reflects the court’s current method (source: National Center for State Courts). Open any justice to see their tenure and whom they succeeded.

Source: Current roster: Iowa Judicial Branch — Supreme Court Justices (iowacourts.gov) and CourtListener / Free Law Project (bulk data); selection method from the National Center for State Courts. Data as of 2026-07-02 (official roster); historical bench 2026-03-31 (CourtListener bulk snapshot). Verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).