Conversation with Iowa Court of Appeals Judge Sam Langholz

Judge Sam Langholz, Ankeny, was appointed to the Iowa Court of Appeals by Governor Kim Reynolds in August 2023. Prior to his appointment, he practiced law in the executive branch of state government for nearly 13 years with roles including chief deputy attorney general, assistant solicitor general, senior legal counsel to the governor, chief administrative law judge, and state public defender. He also previously worked in private practice at a law firm in Des Moines. He began his legal career as a judicial law clerk to Judge Steven M. Colloton on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Judge Langholz earned a law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law with highest distinction and Order of the Coif in 2008 and his undergraduate degree from Washington and Lee University magna cum laude in 2002. He was raised and graduated from high school in Clear Lake.


What are you looking forward to the most in your role on the Iowa Court of Appeals bench?

I love research, writing, and thinking about the law. The role of an appellate judge is a dream job for me from that perspective – being able to really dig in and do that all day and do that with an amazing group of people on the Court of Appeals as well as other judges, law clerks, staff attorneys, and other staff. It has been a warm welcome so far. Being able to do things that you love with a good community is what I am looking forward to.
When did you decide you wanted to pursue the bench? Why?
It is something that I thought about for a period of time, and I first applied 10 years ago. That is when I decided that it was a role that was the best fit for me. I found that it came more naturally to me to reach the objective result and be fair or impartial, not to be advocating for one side or another. Going through the application process you spend a lot of time talking to commissioners and others about what it takes to be a good judge and how you would approach it. Although I was not successful the first time, or second, third, or fourth time, going through that process convinced me even more that it was something that I wanted to do.
Prior to your appointment, you practiced in the executive branch of government for almost 13 years. How did your experience prepare you for your role on the Court of Appeals?
I've been really fortunate to have a wide range of experiences. Each role that I had prepared me in a different sort of way. As an administrative law judge, with another great group of colleagues to learn from, I developed an appreciation for ensuring that litigants are heard and respected. The attorney general’s office provided an opportunity to be exposed to a wide range of areas of the law and argue before the Iowa Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Eighth Circuit, and write briefs for the U.S. Supreme Court.
Who has been instrumental in your professional career?
There have been so many that it is hard to pick just one. I think like many folks who have had a judicial clerkship (I clerked for Judge Colloton) I learned so much from that experience and hope I can provide as good of an experience for the clerks who work with me. Judge Colloton has been a big influence on my approach to being an appellate judge concerning how to write well and being able to think clearly and precisely.
What do you see as the major factors impacting the future of law and/or the legal profession in Iowa?
I think one of the most significant things will be ensuring that we have enough lawyers across the state, especially in rural communities. The Court of Appeals was on the road in Carroll hearing cases, and we were able to visit lawyers in the county while we were there. They are fortunate as a thriving community, but even in that area, there is not a surplus of lawyers. Many counties have challenges to make sure people are there for all the roles needed: magistrates, county attorneys, private practitioners, and court-appointed lawyers.
One of the survey questions in the Judicial Performance Review that the ISBA publishes every two years is “Decides cases on the basis of applicable law and fact, not affected by outside influence.” What is your plan to avoid outside influence in your new role on the Iowa Court of Appeals bench?
It starts with taking your judicial oath seriously: that you are going to decide cases based on the rule of law and do so fairly and impartially without fear, favor, affection, or hope of reward - and reminding yourself of that consistently as you are working through cases. That means keeping an open mind as you’re going through the process of reading briefs and researching and setting aside if you start to develop a sort of inclination to go one way or the other until you finish researching to determine what the law is and then faithfully applying it, even if the result is not the one you personally would have liked to reach.
What do you want Iowa’s legal community to know?
I’m grateful for the outreach and civics work that the bar association does. That was my first exposure to the legal profession. Like many Iowa lawyers, I participated in both the High School Mock Trial and the Know Your Constitution programs that the bar association sponsors. My senior year of high school I attended the Know Your Constitution Awards program and was drawn as a final award winner of a trip to Washington, D.C., so both of those programs have always been important to me and are some of the most valuable things the association does. I served on the Know Your Constitution Committee for eight years and was excited to be able to do that once I became a lawyer. I hope those programs continue for years to come.
What advice would you give to law students and young lawyers today?
I think one of the unique and special things about a law degree is that there are so many different things you can do with it. There are various ways you can practice, and I think it is important to find your own path. Search for a role that you will find rewarding and that you enjoy doing so that going to work every day doesn’t feel like work. I encourage law students and young lawyers to not just follow the conventional path but take the time to think about what you are enjoying in a role and what things you’re not enjoying. Of course, as a young lawyer, you’re not always going to be able to do tasks that you find enjoyable, but in the long term be thinking about a practice and career that will be pleasurable for you.

What are your hobbies and interests?
I enjoy spending time with my wife Kristin and my sons Andrew, 15, and Adam, 11. We have a Siberian Husky mix named Jake, and he is my running partner. I also enjoy weightlifting and biking. Music has always been a big part of my life. I love musical theater and enjoy shows at the civic center.

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