Brent R. Appel

Brent Robert Appel (born July 13, 1950) is an American attorney, politician and former judge who served as a justice of the Iowa Supreme Court from 2006 to 2022. Appel was previously an attorney in the office of the Attorney General of Iowa and was the Democratic Congressional Candidate in Iowa's Second District in 1982.

Early life and education Appel is a native of Dubuque, Iowa. He graduated from Stanford University with concurrent Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in history in 1973. He earned his Juris Doctor at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 1977.

Career After graduating from law school, Appel clerked on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. and Wandro, Baer, Appel & Casper P.C. He specialized in commercial litigation, employment law, and personal injury.

Iowa Supreme Court Appel was nominated by Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack for a term starting in 2006 to succeed James H. Carter on the Iowa Supreme Court.

In 2010, Chief Justice John Roberts appointed Appel to a six-year term as a member of the Federal Advisory Committee on the Rules of Evidence.

Appel also dissented in the June 30, 2022 case that made it harder to sue hog confinements for pollution. Appel wrote “are we telling the existing property owners that they are required to ‘take one for the team’ as the private owners next door emit nuisance odors under a scheme of statutory immunity?”

Appel retired on July 13, 2022, after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 72. In June 2022, it was announced Appel would be joining the faculty of Drake University Law School.

Personal life Appel's wife, Staci Appel, is a former member of the Iowa Senate from the 37th district. She was the Democratic nominee for Iowa's 3rd congressional district in 2014. Appel has six children.