Merrill man applies for court of appeals vacancy

A Merrill man is among 18 Iowans that have applied with the State Judicial Nominating Commission to fill the vacancy on the Iowa Court of Appeals that occurred when Judge John C. Miller retired July 23, 2009.

Jeffrey A. Neary, 51, of Merrill, currently serves as district judge for the Third Judicial District, a position he has held since his appointment in 2003. He earned his J.D. degree in 1987 from the University of South Dakota.

The nominating commission will meet Aug 17-18 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 the slate of nominees to the governor, who makes the appointment to the court.

The commission welcomes 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 Aug. 14.

The address of the State Court Administrator's office is:

State Court Administrator

State Judicial Nominating Commission

Iowa Judicial Branch Building

1111 East Court Avenue

Des Moines, Iowa 50319

The other applicants for the court are:

Kerry K. Anderson, 52, Urbandale, Administrative Law Judge, Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals.

Anne L. Clark, Des Moines, attorney - Hopkins & Huebner, P.C.

David R. Danilson, 55, Boone, District Judge (appointed 1997) - Second Judicial District

George F. Davison, Jr., 59, Des Moines, Attorney - Davison Law Office.

Mark V. Hanson, 60, Des Moines, attorney - Whitfield & Eddy, P.L.C.,

Bruce L. Kempkes, 54, Earlham, Assistant Attorney General

Mark O. Lambert, 48, Polk City, Administrative Law Judge, Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals

Michael L. Mock, 39, West Des Moines, attorney - Bradshaw, Fowler, Proctor & Fairgrave, P.C.

Michael R. Mullins, 57, Washington, District Judge (appointed 2002) - Eighth Judicial District

Ronald R. Pohlman, 46, Earlham, Deputy Workers' Compensation Commissioner

Elisabeth S. Reynoldson, 41, Osceola, Assistant Attorney General.

Allan M. Richards, 55, Tama, Attorney - Richards Law Firm

Karen A. Romano, 47, Johnston, District Judge (appointed 2001) - Fifth Judicial District

Danielle Shelton, 39, Urbandale, Of Counsel - Belin Lamson McCormick Zumbach Flynn P.C. and Professor of Law, Drake University

Mary E. Tabor, 46, Des Moines, Assistant Attorney General

Frank C. Tenuta, 50, Sioux City, Managing Attorney, Iowa Legal Aid

Bruce B. Zager, 56, Waterloo, District Judge (appointed 1999) - First Judicial District