Hansell is presently a law clerk to Chief Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson, III, of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Hansell graduated with academic honors from the University of Michigan Law School in August 1998. He also holds a masters degree in public policy and is fluent in Spanish. Hansell is a graduate of Roosevelt High School in Des Moines.
"It is obviously a tremendous honor to earn a position as a law clerk for a Supreme Court Justice," Grassley said. "I congratulate Jordan Hansell on his prestigious accomplishment. It is wonderful to see an Iowan compete and achieve this kind of success."
In addition to academic accomplishments at the University of Michigan and as an undergraduate student at Duke University, Hansell has gained professional experience at the Department of Justice in the Office of the Solicitor General and with Chief Judge Charles R. Wolle of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.
Hansell is the son of Ed and Phyllis Hansell of Des Moines. Ed Hansell is a law partner at Nyemaster, Goode, Voigts, West, Hansell & O'Brien.