--- title: "Brent R. Appel | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/brent-r-appel-4373" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-09" --- # Brent R. Appel Supreme Court of Iowa · Judge ## Profile - Court: Supreme Court of Iowa - State: Iowa - Role: Judge - Service status: former - Last verified: 2026-08-22 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, Supreme Court of Iowa, 2006-present - As of 2022, Appel is Instructor of Law and Deputy Director of the Institute for Justice Reform & Innovation at Drake University Law School - Brent Appel | Drake University Justice Brent Appel joined the Drake Law faculty in 2022 after serving as a justice of the Iowa Supreme Court for sixteen years. - After clerking for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, Appel held the role of First Assistant Attorney General of Iowa (1979–1983) and Deputy Attorney General (1983–1987), arguing four cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, including Nix v. - He also chaired the Iowa Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission ### Education ### Additional information - Brent R. Appel is an American attorney, former justice of the Iowa Supreme Court (2006–2022), and current faculty member at Drake University Law School - Appel authored significant dissents, including a 94‐page dissent in the 2022 Iowa Supreme Court abortion ruling. - He received the Iowa State Bar Association’s Rolland E. Grefe Pro Bono Publico Award in 2022 for his access‐to‐justice leadership - In 2010, Chief Justice John Roberts appointed him to the Federal Advisory Committee on the Rules of Evidence (2010–2016). - He was retained by voters in 2008 and 2016. - He then practiced in Des Moines until 2006 - Appel was appointed by Governor Tom Vilsack in 2006 to succeed James H. Carter. - J.D. — University of California at Berkeley School of Law in 1977. [...] He worked as a law clerk for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit - Appel was born in Dubuque, Iowa, and earned B.A. and M.A. degrees in history from Stanford University in 1973, followed by a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 1977. - Born July 13, 1950. - Date of birth: 1950-07-13 - Whiteside. - focusing on commercial litigation, employment law, and personal injury - He also offers mediation, arbitration, and consulting services - JD — University of California, Berkeley, where he served on the board of editors of the California Law Review - received the Jamieson Award for Outstanding Scholarship and Advocacy - Birth place: Dubuque ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### recording photography streaming Scope: statewide Iowa prohibits broadcasting, recording, photographing, texting, blogging, or tweeting real-time courtroom coverage unless the presiding judicial officer permits it in advance. Evidence excerpt: prohibited unless the presiding judicial officer expressly permits coverage in advance [Iowa Judicial Branch: Expanded News Media Coverage](https://www.iowacourts.gov/newsroom/expanded-news-media-coverage) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### presiding judge discretion Scope: statewide Iowa's expanded news media coverage framework requires approval, but the judge should allow coverage unless it would materially interfere with protected interests or the proceeding. Evidence excerpt: The judge shall allow expanded news media coverage unless the judge concludes [Iowa Judicial Branch: Expanded News Media Coverage](https://www.iowacourts.gov/newsroom/expanded-news-media-coverage) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### electronic devices for media Scope: statewide Iowa Chapter 25 requires approval before using electronic devices for photography, video recording, audio recording, or streaming video in a courtroom. Evidence excerpt: Electronic devices for photography, video recording, audio recording, or streaming video may not be used [Chapter 25 Rules for Expanded News Media Coverage](https://www.iowacourts.gov/static/media/cms/25_2_44097B6A827DC.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4373/brent-r-appel/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4373/brent-r-appel/) - [Supreme Court of Iowa current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4373/brent-r-appel/) - [Iowa Judicial Branch: Expanded News Media Coverage](https://www.iowacourts.gov/newsroom/expanded-news-media-coverage) - [Chapter 25 Rules for Expanded News Media Coverage](https://www.iowacourts.gov/static/media/cms/25_2_44097B6A827DC.pdf) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4373/brent-r-appel/) - [Brent Appel - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Brent_Appel) - [Hon. Brent Appel | Drake University](https://www.drake.edu/law/fac-staff/profile/brent-appel) - [Wikidata: Brent R. Appel](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4961513) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/brent-r-appel-4373", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/brent-r-appel-4373", "name": "Brent R. Appel | KnowJudges", "description": "Brent R. Appel, Supreme Court of Iowa. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-09", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/brent-r-appel-4373#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/brent-r-appel-4373#judge", "name": "Brent R. 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