Two local attorneys apply for appeals judge position

Two Plymouth County residents are among 27 Iowans who have applied with the State Judicial Nominating Committee to fill the vacancy on the Iowa Court of Appeals that will occur when Judge Terry Huitink of Ireton retires Dec. 31, 2008.

They are:

Jeffrey A. Neary, 50, of Merrill, currently serves as a District Judge for the Third Judicial District.

Darin J. Raymond, 42, of Le Mars, currently serves as Plymouth County Attorney.

Nearly one-half of the applicants are from the Des Moines and central Iowa area.

The nominating comission will meet Dec. 17 and 18 to interview the applicants.

Immediately following the interviews, the commission will select a slate of three nominees from the group of applicants. The commission will submit those to the governor, who makes the appointment to the court.

The commission is seeking written comments from the public about the qualifications of any of the applicants. Comments must be submitted to the State Court Administrator, who serves as the commission secretary, by Dec. 16.

The address of the State Court Administrator's office is: State Court Administration, Attn: State Judicial Nominating Commission, Iowa Judicial Branch Building, 1111 East Court Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50319.