The judicial nominating commission has sent Governor Branstad three names to fill one open slot on the Iowa Court of Appeals. The position opened up when the governor appointed appeals court judge Edward Mansfield to one of the three recent openings on the Iowa Supreme Court.
One of the nominees for the Court of Appeals — District Court Judge Michael Mullins of Washington, Iowa — was among the nine who were nominated but not selected for the Supreme Court openings.
The other two Court of Appeals nominees are: District Court Judge Susan Christensen of Harlan and assistant state attorney general, Bruce Kempkes. Branstad now has 30 days to select one of the three nominees to fill the seat on the Court of Appeals.