Reynolds ally Sam Langholz named to Iowa Court of Appeals
A longtime ally of Gov. Kim Reynolds is her latest appointment to the Iowa Court of Appeals.
Sam Langholz, named Wednesday to fill a vacancy on the state's intermediate appellate court, is currently the chief deputy to Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird. He joined the Attorney General's Office in 2020 under her predecessor, Democrat Tom Miller, as assistant solicitor general, representing the state in both Iowa and federal appellate courts.
Prior to that, he worked for Reynolds from 2018 to 2020 as a senior legal counsel and special advisor, representing her in disputes such as whether her office had misused federal COVID-19 relief funds. He also had previously applied to join the Iowa Supreme Court.
Bird praised the appointment in a statement, saying Langholz had played an "integral role through two administrations" in the attorney general's office.
"Sam has a keen legal mind, thoughtful approach to the law, and unwavering respect for both our state and federal Constitutions," Bird said. "... I have no doubt that his vast knowledge and experience will make him a valuable member of the Court.”
Langholz acknowledged the appointment Wednesday on his LinkedIn page.
"I love Iowa. I love the law. And I am honored to have the chance to give back to the State that has given me so much by serving in this new role on the Iowa Court of Appeals," he wrote.
Langholz's resume shows a mix of legal and political experience. Prior to joining Reynolds' office, he previously served stints as the state public defender, as an administrative law judge and as a law clerk on the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
On the political side, according to his LinkedIn, he spent nearly three years in the early 2000s as a staffer in the office of the U.S. House majority whip, a position held for most of his tenure by Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Missouri, as well as an internship with the George W. Bush White House in 2001.
William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at [email protected], 715-573-8166 or on Twitter at @DMRMorris.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Former Kim Reynolds attorney named to Iowa Court of Appeals