Born 1963 in Iowa City, IA

Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Nominated by George W. Bush on February 12, 2003, to a seat vacated by David R. Hansen. Confirmed by the Senate on September 4, 2003, and received commission on September 10, 2003. Served as chief judge, 2024-present.

Education:
Princeton University, A.B., 1985
Yale Law School, J.D., 1988

Professional Career:

Law clerk, Hon. Laurence H. Silberman, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, 1988-1989
Law clerk, Hon. William H. Rehnquist, Supreme Court of the United States, 1989-1990
Special assistant to the assistant attorney general, Office of Legal Counsel, U.S. Department of Justice, 1990-1991
Assistant U.S. attorney, Northern District of Iowa, 1991-1999
Associate independent counsel, Whitewater investigation, 1995-1996
Private practice, Iowa, 1999-2001
Adjunct lecturer, University of Iowa College of Law, 2000
U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, 2001-2003
Member, Judicial Conference of the United States, 2024-present