Community and business leaders gathered yesterday (Thursday) to celebrate a local judge’s appointment to the Iowa Court of Appeals. Carroll native, Gina Badding, previously practiced law with Neu, Minnich, Comito, Halbur, Neu & Badding, P.C. before she was chosen in April 2019 by Gov. Kim Reynolds to fill a vacancy in Iowa Judicial District 2B. Just two years later, Reynolds selected Badding from three highly qualified candidates to become the state’s newest judge on the appellate court. Badding’s formal investiture was held last Friday at the Iowa Supreme Court, but she started reviewing cases at the end of August.
Badding has already considered numerous appeals, writing the opinion for several of them. While she enjoyed the procedure and hands-on aspects of the district court system, Badding likes that she can really dive into the intricacies of the legal system as an appellate judge.
Badding’s rise through the legal system over the last five years has been swift. She was one of the youngest district court judges in the state when she was appointed to the bench at just 39 years old and only a few other judges in the history of the Iowa Court of Appeals were younger at the time of their appointment. Badding says her friends, family and colleagues back home in Carroll help keep her grounded.
Appointments to the Iowa Court of Appeals are in effect for one year, and then that judge will be appear on the ballot for a retention election. Once retained, it is usually another six years before the question of retention comes up again. Badding will make her first ballot appearance in 2022.
