Judge Cynthia Danielson to retire first of the year

Eighth Judicial District, Sub-District 8B Judge Cynthia Danielson, of Mt. Pleasant, is retiring. Danielson has submitted her letter of retirement, which is effective Jan. 28, 2016. Danielson has served as district court judge for 16 years, having been appointed to the bench in 1999.

The Eighth Judicial District, Sub-District 8B includes Henry, Des Moines, Lee and Louisa counties.

The 8B judicial nominating commission, comprised of five attorney and five non-attorney citizens and the senior judge in the district, who acts as chairman, will be interviewing candidates to replace Danielson.

Commission members include: Judge John G. Linn, chairman; Janet Fife-LaFrenz, Keokuk; Elizabeth E. Garrels, Mt. Pleasant; David Helman, Salem; Catherine J. Miller-Sands, Wapello; Daniel Wiedemeier, Burlington; Seleta Bainter, attorney, Mt. Pleasant; Robert Engler, attorney, Burlington; Jennifer E. Klever-Kirkman, attorney, Burlington; Stephanie Kozlowski, attorney, Burlington; and Scott Schroeder, attorney, Burlington.

The Judicial Nominating Commission has established procedures for filling the position of district court judge in Judicial District 8B and the Supreme Court of Iowa has adopted an application to be completed by each person who wishes to apply for nomination to be a district court judge. Copies of the application can be obtained from the District Court Administrator?s office for the Eighth Judicial District, 211 E. Fourth St., Ottumwa, Iowa 52501, by emailing cathy.reck@iowacourts.gov, or by calling 1-641-684-6502, ext 110.

All applications must be received by the court administrator?s office no later than 4:30 p.m., Nov. 13, 2015. No late applications will be accepted. The names of the applicants will be made available to the public after the deadline for filing applications.

Applicants must be members of the bar of Iowa, a resident of the sub-district of the court to which they are nominated, and shall be of such an age that they will be able to serve an initial term and one regular term of office before reaching the age of 72 years.

All applications will be considered. However, if there are more applicants than can be effectively interviewed, the commission may elect to screen the applicants and interview fewer than all.

The selected applicants will be given an opportunity to appear before the entire Judicial Nominating Commission for a personal interview. The applicants? submissions and materials shall be open to the public. Applicant interviews shall also be open. The public will be allowed to observe and listen but not interact. It is expected interviews will be conducted Nov. 17, 2015.

The commission will submit the names of two nominees to Governor Branstad who will then appoint one to fill the vacancy.