Brent Robert Appel (born July 13, 1950)[2] is an American attorney, politician and former judge who served as a justice of the Iowa Supreme Court from 2006 to 2022. Appel was previously an attorney in the office of the Attorney General of Iowa and was a candidate for a seat in the Iowa General Assembly.
Brent R. Appel | |
---|---|
Associate Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court | |
In office 2006 – July 13, 2022 | |
Nominated by | Tom Vilsack |
Preceded by | James H. Carter[1] |
Succeeded by | David N. May |
Personal details | |
Born | Dubuque, Iowa, U.S. | July 13, 1950
Spouse | Staci Appel |
Education | Stanford University (BA, MA) University of California, Berkeley (JD) |
Appel is a native of Dubuque, Iowa.[3] He graduated from Stanford University with concurrent Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in history in 1973.[3][4] He earned his Juris Doctor at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 1977.[3] At Berkeley, he was an editor of the California Law Review and won the McBaine Moot Court.[5]
After graduating from law school, Appel clerked on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.[3]
Appel was then First Assistant Attorney General of Iowa from 1979 to 1983 and deputy Attorney General from 1983 until 1987.[3][4] While working at the Iowa Attorney General's Office, he argued four cases before the Supreme Court of the United States, including Nix v. Williams and Nix v. Whiteside.[3]
From 1987 to 2006, Appel worked in private practice in Des Moines,[3] including at the law firms Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler & Hagan P.C.[6] and Wandro, Baer, Appel & Casper P.C.[7] He specialized in commercial litigation, employment law, and personal injury.[5]
Appel unsuccessfully ran once for the Iowa General Assembly as a Democratic candidate.[8]
Appel was nominated by Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack for a term starting in 2006 to succeed James H. Carter on the Iowa Supreme Court.[8]
In 2010, Chief Justice John Roberts appointed Appel to a six-year term as a member of the Federal Advisory Committee on the Rules of Evidence.[3]
On June 17, 2022, Appel wrote a 94 page dissent when the Iowa Supreme Court ruled 5-2 that abortion is not protected by the state constitution.[9][10]
Appel also dissented in the June 30, 2022 case that made it harder to sue hog confinements for pollution.[11] Appel wrote “are we telling the existing property owners that they are required to ‘take one for the team’ as the private owners next door emit nuisance odors under a scheme of statutory immunity?” [12]
Appel retired on July 13, 2022, after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 72.[13] In June 2022, it was announced Appel would be joining the faculty of Drake University Law School.[14]
Appel's wife, Staci Appel, is a former member of the Iowa Senate from the 37th district. She was the Democratic nominee for Iowa's 3rd congressional district in 2014. Appel has six children.[3]