In July 2001, President Bush nominated Melloy to serve as U.S. Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit and James Gritzner of West Des Moines to serve as U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Iowa. The Judiciary Committee now must hold a vote on the nominations.
"Both Judge Melloy and Jim Gritzner have distinguished legal careers and shown tremendous dedication to public service," Grassley said. "I'm confident these men possess the skill, integrity, commitment, intellect and temperament that we expect of all good judges."
Melloy has served as United States District Judge for the Northern District of Iowa since 1992. He served as United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Iowa from 1986 to 1992. Melloy is a graduate of the University of Iowa College of Law and has a bachelor's degree from Loras College in Dubuque.
Gritzner has been a lawyer in private practice in Des Moines since 1982. He served as a member of the Iowa Board of Parole from 1980 to 1982. From 1985 to 1990, he was the primary prosecutor for the Committee on Professional Ethics and Conduct of the Iowa State Bar Association and the Client Security and Attorney Disciplinary Commission of the Iowa Supreme Court. Gritzner is a graduate of Drake University Law School. He has a master's degree from the University of Northern Iowa and a bachelor's degree from Dakota Wesleyan University.
There are 11 judgeships on the Eight Circuit, which is based is St. Louis. The court handles appeals from Iowa and six other states in the Midwest. The vacancy Melloy has been nominated to fill was created when Iowa Judge George Fagg announced his retirement in April 1999.
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa has three active judges. Gritzner was nominated for a full-time spot on the bench that was created when Judge Charles Wolle announced he would assume senior judge status, which allows him to handle a smaller caseload.
Grassley forwarded the names of both men to the White House for initial consideration last year. Grassley, a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, said he doesn't know when the committee will vote on the nominations, but will do all he can to expedite the process. "I can't imagine two more qualified people for these federal judgeship positions, and I'm proud to support their nominations," he said.