Federal and state court judges and law clerks host lawyers and law students

By U.S. Magistrate Judge William Kelly

Staff attorneys, law clerks, and interns play a vital role in our system of justice. This spring, Iowa Court of Appeals Judge Sharon Soorholtz Greer and U.S. Magistrate Judge Bill Kelly thought it would be interesting for the lawyers and law students who support Iowa judges to see the similarities and differences between the federal and state judicial systems. Career Law Clerk Debra Stewart, of the Southern District of Iowa, Anna Stoeffler, senior judicial law clerk from the Iowa Supreme Court, and Lara Nichols, senior staff attorney at the Iowa Court of Appeals, planned an educational day at the Iowa Judicial Branch and a day at the new federal courthouse.

On March 28, federal attorneys and interns were treated to a tour of the Iowa Supreme Court and Court of Appeals courtrooms and chambers. Justice Christopher McDonald, his law clerk Conner Greene, law clerk Ethan Kinney, and Counsel to Chief Justice Megan Tooker described their duties and the challenges that come with serving in the appellate courts. Judge Greer, her staff attorney Andrew Olson, and law clerk Katie Foley discussed their process for deciding cases and issuing opinions.

On April 4, the state appellate court law clerks and interns had an opportunity to see what happens behind the scenes in federal court. U.S. Chief Judge for the Southern District of Iowa Stephanie Rose and U.S. Magistrate Judge Kelly spoke to the state clerks and interns about the cases that they see and their distinct duties serving on a federal trial court. A panel of attorneys who work in the federal court system described their role and how they support the federal judges. Law clerks and staff attorneys who spoke were Debra Stewart, career clerk; Kay Bartolo, career clerk; Matt Engelstad, career clerk; Dakota Keninger, term clerk; Peter Chalik, pro se law clerk; and Austin Putz, former term clerk and present law clerk to Justice David May. Clerk of court for the Southern District of Iowa, Chandlor Collins, then provided a tour of the new federal courthouse, including hearing from the U.S. Marshals Service and United States Probation Office.

The law clerks, staff attorneys, and judges had an opportunity to network and get to know the two systems better. For the attorneys who support the judges, it gave them an opening to discuss best practices and appreciate the skilled lawyers, clerks, and interns who do the research, writing, and scheduling to make both the federal and state court systems work well.

Attorneys, clerks, and law students toured the Iowa Judicial Branch building on March 28.

U.S. Magistrate Judge William Kelly speaks to attorneys, law clerks, and interns.

Attendees at the educational day learn about the similarities and differences between the federal and state judicial systems.

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