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Thomas Waterman
Justice, Iowa Supreme Court
Background: Waterman worked in private practice at Lane & Waterman LLP until his appointment to the state supreme court. He also co-edited Defense Update, a publication of the Iowa Defense Counsel Association.
At a glance
- Court
- Iowa Supreme Court
- Position / seat
- Not listed
- Chief justice
- No
- How they joined the court
- Appointed by Gov. Terry E. Branstad (R) (2011); retained by voters in a retention election on November 3, 2020
- Appointed by
- Gov. Terry E. Branstad (R)
- Appointment date
- 2011
- Took office
- 2011
- Current term ends
- December 31, 2028
- Next election or retention vote
- Not listed
- Last election
- November 3, 2020
- Party (as listed by Ballotpedia)
- Nonpartisan
- Ballotpedia partisanship estimate
- Mild Republican (2020 study of justices' pre-court partisan activity)
- Education
- Bachelor's: Dartmouth College, 1981
- Law: University of Iowa College of Law, 1984
- Prior offices
- Not listed
- Profession
- Not listed
- How this court's justices are chosen
- Assisted appointment (governor-controlled commission)A nominating commission screens candidates and sends a shortlist; the governor appoints from it. In many such states, justices later face yes/no retention elections.
Summary of facts listed on Thomas Waterman’s Ballotpedia page (retrieved Oct 26, 2026) · Photo: Ballotpedia. “Not listed” means Ballotpedia didn’t list it in a form this site could read; check Ballotpedia for the latest.
No public decision data available for this court.