Iowa Court of Appeals Elects Tabor as Chief Judge

The Iowa Court of Appeals has elected Mary Tabor, Des Moines, as chief judge. Chief Judge Tabor has served on the court of appeals since 2010. She is the eleventh chief judge since the state legislature established the Iowa Court of Appeals in 1976. She replaces Chief Judge Thomas Bower, who recently retired.

"Serving on the Iowa Court of Appeals has been my great honor”. Chief Judge Tabor said. “Our judges and staff are dedicated to doing justice for the people of Iowa.  And I’m truly grateful for the chance to continue contributing to that important work as chief judge.”

Chief Judge Tabor was born in Maquoketa and raised on her family's farm in Jackson County.  She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa in 1985.  She graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1991.

Judge Tabor worked as a staff attorney in the Office of General Counsel for the Federal Election Commission in Washington, D.C. from 1991 to 1993.  She joined the Iowa Attorney General's Office in 1993 and served as director of the Criminal Appeals Division from 1999 to 2010.

Judge Tabor is a member of the Polk County Bar Association, the Iowa State Bar Association, Iowa Judges Association, American Law Institute, Blackstone Inn of Court,  Iowa Organization of Women Attorneys and Polk County Women Attorneys. Judge Tabor is married and has two sons and one daughter.

The Iowa Court of Appeals is a nine-member, intermediate appellate court. It reviews appeals from trial court decisions that the supreme court has transferred to the court of appeals. A decision of the Iowa Court of Appeals is final unless reviewed by the Iowa Supreme Court on grant of further review.

In addition to day-to-day judicial duties, the Chief Judge of the Iowa Court of Appeals supervises the business of the court, presides when present at a session of the court, and serves on the judicial council. Chief Judge Tabor will carry these duties and continue to review cases and author opinions.

Previous Chief Judges of the Iowa Court of Appeals
1976-1978       Chief Judge Robert Allbee
1978-1994       Chief Judge Leo Oxberger
1994-1996       Chief Judge Allen Donielson
1996                Chief Judge Rosemary Sackett
1997                Chief Judge Albert Habhab
1997-1998       Chief Justice Mark Cady
1999-2012       Chief Judge Rosemary Sackett
2012-2013       Chief Judge Larry J. Eisenhauer
2013-2019       Chief Judge David Danilson
2019                Chief Judge Gayle Nelson Vogel
2019-2024       Chief Judge Thomas Bower