Roxanne Barton Conlin

Roxanne Conlin has her own law firm in Des Moines, where she exclusively represents people who have been harmed by others, whether by discrimination, products, doctors or vehicles. She entered Drake University in 1961, when she was only 16, and graduated from law school with honors five years later at the age of 21. From 1969 to 1976, she was an Assistant Attorney General for Iowa, where she was head of the Iowa Civil Rights section and fought race and sex discrimination. She also rewrote Iowa's inheritance laws; toughened the state's assault laws and blocked a merger of two major utilities that would have hurt the average consumer. She left the Attorney General's Office to become a consultant to the United States Department of State for International Women's Year. In 1977, she became one of the first two women ever to be a United States Attorney. Roxanne put heroin dealers behind bars and prosecuted white-collar crimes and corruption in public office. She also served as President of the Federal Executive Council, which is composed of the heads of all seventy federal agencies. Roxanne has devoted much time to individual organizations and causes and community service. She founded and was the first chair of the Iowa Women's Political caucus, and was president and general counsel of the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund. She has been named by the National Law Journal as one of the fifty most influential women lawyers in America, one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America and one of the top 10 litigators. Her achievements have brought such honors as induction into the Iowa Woman's Hall of Fame and national attention such as selection in 1975 as one of the 44 Women Who Could Save America and in 1976 as one of 44 Women Qualified for Cabinet Position. In June of 1982, Roxanne won a three-way primary and became the Democratic nominee for Governor of Iowa. She was narrowly defeated in her effort to become that state's first Democratic governor in 14 years, and its first woman governor. She has had many other firsts. She was the first woman president of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, a 60,000 member organization of consumer attorneys. She was the first woman to chair the Roscoe Pound Foundation, a trial lawyers think tank. She was the founder and first chair of the Civil Justice Foundation, which provides direct support to grass roots organizations and disabled individuals. She was inducted in 1995 into the Inner Circle of Advocates, limited to only 100 of the best plaintiff trial lawyers nationwide. Recently, she was thrilled to have a law school scholarship named after her at the University of Missouri. She also received the Rosalie Wahl Award from the Minnesota Women Lawyers Association. She married her husband, James, on March 21, 1964. They have raised four children and have five grandchildren. Political Democratic Nominee for Iowa for United States Senate, 2010 Co-Chair Edwards for President, 2008 Inducted into the Iowa Democratic Party Hall of Fame as Outstanding Supporter, 2007 Co-Chair Edwards for President, 2004 Chair, Iowa Democratic Party, November, 1998 - April, 1999 Member, Senior Women's Strategy Council - Mondale/Ferraro Campaign, 1984 Co-chair Women for Harkin Committee, 1984 Chair, National Policy Council, John Glenn for President Committee, 1983 - 1984 Democratic Nominee for Governor of Iowa, 1982 Chair of the panel on Food & Agricultural Policies for Democratic National Committee, Philadelphia, 1982 Headquarters Volunteer - Carter for President, 1976 Vice-Chair of Iowa Delegation to the National Mid-term Convention, 1974 Delegate - Iowa Democratic State Conventions, Member of the Platform, Rules and By-Laws Committee, 1964 - 1974 Precinct Committeewoman - Polk County Democratic Party, 1966 - 1972 Volunteer - Hughes for United State Senate, 1968 National Committeewoman - Iowa Young Democrats, 1965 - 1966 President - Polk County Young Democrats, 1964 - 1966 Volunteer - Hughes for Governor, 1962 - 1966 Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees Roxanne Barton Conlin included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors Attorney and Practice Magazine’s Top 10 Personal Injury Attorney, 2022 - Present AAJ Distinguished Service Award, 2022 - Present Best Lawyers U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firms, 2022 - Present American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys Attorney Client Satisfaction 10 Best High Verdict & Settlement Winner, 2022 - Present Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Related for Highest Level of Professional Excellence, 2021 - Present Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent Highest Possible Rating in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards, 2021 - Present Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, 2021 - Present Business Finance Sector Excellence Global Business Awards – Best Personal Injury & Discrimination Attorneys Iowa, 2021 - Present Best Lawyers Sixth Annual “Women in the Law”, 2021 - Present Expertise’s Best Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Des Moines, 2021 - Present Martindale Hubbell Top Rated Lawyer Medical Malpractice for Ethical Standards and Legal Ability, 2021 - Present American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys 10 Best High Verdict & Settlement, 2020 - 2021 Marquis Who’s Who Top Professional Series, 2020 - Present Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Related for Highest Level of Professional Excellence, 2020 - Present Martindale Hubbell Highest Possible Rating in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards, 2020 - Present Best of the Best Attorneys Top 10 Personal Injury Law Attorney, 2020 - Present Lawdragon 500 To Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers; Hall of Fame, 2020 - Present Interfaith Alliance Award, 2020 - Present Iowa Women’s Foundation Ovation - A Tribute to Iowa Women and Girls, 2019 - Present 10 Best Attorneys – American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys, 2019 - Present Martindale Hubbell Judicial Edition Highest Possible Rating in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards Reflecting the Confidential Opinions of Members of the Bar and Judiciary, 2019 - Present Benchmark Litigation Labor & Employment – Midwest Regional Best, 2018 - Present The World Food Prize Robert D. Ray Iowa SHARES Humanitarian Award, 2018 - Present Lawdragon 500 Plaintiff Employment Lawyers Guide, 2018 - Present 10 Best Attorneys – American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys, 2018 - Present Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating Highest Possible Rating in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards, 2018 - Present America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators for Iowa, 2018 - Present The American Registry Top 1 Percent America’s Most Honored Professionals, 2018 - Present Albert Nelson Marquis Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement Award, 2017 - Present 10 Best Female Attorneys – American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys, 2017 - Present 10 Best Attorneys – American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys, 2017 - Present The American Registry Top 1 Percent America’s Most Honored Professionals, 2017 - Present 10 Best Female Attorneys – American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys, 2016 - Present The American Registry Top 1 Percent America’s Most Honored Professionals, 2016 - Present Elected as Senior Fellow with Litigation Counsel of America, 2015 - Present Donald Lay Award, 2014 - Present Bloomer/Catt Award for Public Service, Status of Women Conference, 2013 - Present Alumni Achievement Award - Drake Law School, 2013 - Present Selected by Martindale-Hubbell as a Preeminent Woman Lawyer - exclusively for women attorneys who have received the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards from their peers, 2013 - Present Recognized as being in the top 5% of America’s Most Honored Professionals, 2011 - Present Community Champion Award from the Civil Justice Foundation, 2011 - Present National Championship Honoree from the American Mock Trial Association, 2011 - Present Community Champion Award from the Civil Justice Foundation, 2010 - Present Selected as one of Labor & Employment’s Best Lawyers, 2010 - Present Gertrude Rush Award from Iowa State Bar Association, 2009 - Present Selected as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, 2009 - Present Selected as one of Midwest CEO’s Most Influential Women of 2009, 2009 - Present Selected as one of Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Lawyers in America, 2008 - Present Iowa Senate Resolution 134 commending work and congratulating for accomplishments, passed unanimously, 2008 - Present 2008 Louise Noun Visionary Women Award – awarded by the Young Women’s Resource Center, 2008 - Present Inducted into Iowa Legal Aid Hall of Fame, 2008 - Present 1st recipient of the Iowa Trial Lawyer’s Public Justice Award, named the Roxanne Conlin Public Justice Award, 2007 - Present Inducted into the Iowa Democratic Party Hall of Fame as Outstanding Supporter, 2007 - Present Elected to Litigation Counsel of America, 2007 - Present American Association of Justice (formerly Association of Trial Lawyers of America), Leonard M. Ring Champion of Justice Award – Awarded annually to a member whose life and career epitomizes that of a true champion of justice, 2006 - Present Activist Leader Award from Drake University, United Way and the Des Moines ‘Business Record’, 2005 - Present Association of Trial Lawyers of America, National College of Advocacy, Diplomat of Trial Advocacy, 2005 - Present Iowa Juneteenth Observance Liberty Award, 2005 - Present The Iowa Shares Special Recognition in Iowa for efforts to resettle Vietnamese boat people in Iowa, 2005 - Present Ruth Bader Ginsburg Award from NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund, 2004 - Present The 2004 Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers 88th Edition, 2004 - Present Lifetime Achievement Award from ATLA, 2003 - Present Mary Louise Smith Human Rights Award from the Des Moines Human Rights Commission, 2003 - Present Elected to Membership in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, 2002 - Present Award from Very Special Arts of Iowa Serving Disabled Iowans, 2002 - Present Award from United Way for work with Young Women’s Resource Center, 2002 - Present Named by National Law Journal as One of the Ten Most Influential Women Attorneys, 2002 - Present Mary Louise Smith Award for Racial Justice from the YWCA, 2001 - Present Marie Lambert Award for Equality for Women from the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 2000 - Present Selected as One of Twelve Most Influential Women by the Des Moines ‘Business Record’, 2000 - Present Named One of the Fifty Most Influential Iowans of the Twentieth Century by Des Moines Register, 2000 - Present Martindale Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Attorneys, 1999 - Present International Society of Lawyers for Public Service, 1999 - Present Kansas City Association of Women Lawyers established the Annual Roxanne Barton Conlin Scholarship, 1999 - Present Rosalie Wahl Leadership Award from the Minnesota Women Lawyers Association, 1998 - Present Named by the National Law Journal as one of “The Fifty Most Influential Women Lawyers in America”, 1998 - Present Named Woman of the Year by the Metro Women's Network, 1997 - Present Elected to Membership in the Inner Circle of Advocates, 1995 - Present Featured in Best Lawyers in America for Employment Law – Individuals and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs, 1995 - 2022 Elected to membership in the American Law Institute, 1994 - Present APEX Award recognizing excellence in opinion column writing for President's Page in Trial of June, 1993 on Alcoholism, 1994 - Present Verne Lawyer Outstanding Member Award from the Iowa Association of Trial Lawyers, 1993 - Present Elected to Membership in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, 1993 - Present 7th Annual Chester Bedell Memorial Lecture, 1992 - Present Life Fellow of the Iowa State Bar Association, 1992 - Present One of the women featured in the book More Strongminded Women by Louise Noun (ISU Press), 1992 - Present Named one of 100 most influential lawyers in the nation by National Law Journal, 1991 - Present Elected to Membership in the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers, 1991 - Present Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1991 - Present Diplomat of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys, 1990 - Present Outstanding Alumni Award, Drake University Law School, 1989 - Present Woman of Vision Award, Young Women's Resource Center, 1989 - Present Named one of the nation’s top ten litigators in an article in the National Law Journal, 1989 - Present Iowa Citizens Action Network Annual Award for Public Service, 1987 - Present Iowa Women's Hall of Fame, 1981 - Present Omicron Delta Kappa, Alumni Member, 1981 - Present Award for Outstanding Assistance - United States Secret Service, 1981 - Present Special Commendation - Director of Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1979 - Present Special Commendation - United States Postal Inspection Service, 1978 - Present Chosen in article in McCall's Magazine (November issue) as one of 44 Women qualified for a Cabinet Position, 1976 - Present Honorary Doctor of Laws, University of Dubuque, 1975 - Present Chosen in article in Redbook Magazine as one of "44 Women Who Could Save America", 1975 - Present Outstanding Service to Civil Liberties presented by the Iowa Civil Liberties Union, 1974 - Present Martin Luther King, Jr. award for outstanding service presented by Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of N.A. AFL-CIO, 1974 - Present The Outstanding Young Woman of Iowa, 1974 - Present Other Sources of Feedback About Roxanne Barton Conlin Included on the 2025Great Plains Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2024 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2023 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2022 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2021 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2020 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2019 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2018 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2017 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2016 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2015 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2014 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2013 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2012 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2011 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2010 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2009 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2007 Iowa Super Lawyers list

• Attorney/Partner/Owner

• Galligan and Conlin, P.C., 1983 - 1990
• Democratic nominee for Governor of the State of Iowa, 1982 - Present
• United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, Attorney General's Advisory Committee of United States Attorneys, 1977 - 1981
• United States Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year, United States Department of State, Consultant, 1976 - 1977
• State of Iowa, Assistant Attorney General, 1969 - 1976
• Deputy Industrial Commissioner, 1967 - 1968
• Private Practice, 1966 - 1967

• Adjunct Professor of Law, University of Iowa Law School, 1977 - 1979

• Gail v. Clark
• Citation: 410 N.W.2d 662
• Court: Iowa
• Year: 1987
• Serial Number: 1987092443
• Cedar Rapids Community School Dist. v. Parr
• Citation: 227 N.W.2d 486
• Year: 1975
• Serial Number: 1975118175
• State v. West
• Citation: 252 N.W.2d 457
• Year: 1977
• Serial Number: 1977110459
• State v. Bartz
• Citation: 224 N.W.2d 632
• Year: 1974
• Serial Number: 1974119323
• U. S. v. May
• Citation: 625 F.2d 186
• Court: C.A.8 (Iowa)
• Year: 1980
• Serial Number: 1980118705
• Doe v. Cherwitz
• Citation: 518 N.W.2d 362
• Year: 1994
• Serial Number: 1994136198
• Beeman v. Manville Corp. Asbestos Disease Compensation Fund
• Citation: 496 N.W.2d 247
• Year: 1993
• Serial Number: 1993051674

• National Pro Bono Effort for the Victims of September 11th Tragedy, Board of Directors Trial Lawyers Care, 2001 - 2004

• Iowa, 1966
• Specialties and Certifications
• Certified Civil Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1991

• NITA, 2003 - 2006 (Board of Trustees)
• National Center for State Court Lawyers Committee, 2003 - 2009
• Roscoe Pound Foundation, 1994 - 1997 (President)
• American Law Institute, 1994 - Present (Elected Membership)
• American Jury Trial Foundation, 1993 - Present (Trustee)
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1992 - 1993 (President)
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1991 - 1992 (President-Elect)
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1990 - 1991 (Vice-President)
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1989 - 1990 (Secretary)
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1988 - 1989 (Parliamentarian)
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1987 - 1989 (ATLA-PAC Board of Directors)
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America (Chair, Organization Review Committee)
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America (Chair, Education Committee)
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America (Chair, Membership Oversight Committee)
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America (Consumer and Victims Coalition Committee)
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America (Chair, Safety Conference Committee)
• Roscoe Pound Foundation, 1986 - 1992 (Member, Board of Governors)
• National Association of Former United States Attorneys, 1991 - 1999 (Board of Directors)
• Older Iowans' Permanent Fund Foundation, 1991 - 1997 (Advisory Board Member)
• Animal Rescue League of Iowa, 1990 - 1995 (Honorary Board Member)
• Blackstone Inn, American Inns, 1989 - Present (Master of the Bench)
• Higher Education Task Force of the State of Iowa, 1988 - 1992 (Co-Chair)
• Coalition for Women's Appointments, 1988 - 1990 (Advisory Board)
• Civil Justice Foundation, 1986 - 1988 (President)
• Council on Judicial Selection, 1986 (Appointed by Chief Justice Reynoldsen)
• YWCA, 1986 - 1988 (Board of Directors)
• Drake University Law School Endowment Trust, 1985 - 1986 (Chair, Board of Governors)
• Association of Trial Lawyers of Iowa, 1984 - 1995 (Board of Governors)
• NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund, 1983 - 1989 (Board of Directors)
• NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund, 1986 - 1988 (President)
• NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund, 1985 - 1986 (General Counsel)
• Dowling High School, 1981 - Present (Board of Directors)
• Federal Executive Council, 1979 - 1981 (President, Vice-President)
• Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, 1979 - Present (Member)
• Iowa Shares Program, 1978 - 1980 (Board of Directors)
• National Women's Political Caucus, 1977 - Present (Advisory Board)
• Drake University Law School, 1977 - 1985 (Law Board of Counselors)
• Upper Midwest Council - Critical Choice Project, 1976 - 1977 (Panelist)
• Youth for Understanding, 1976 (Bicentennial Committee of Iowa)
• National Women's Political Caucus, 1975 - 1977 (Administrative Committee Member)
• Polk County Rape/Sexual Assault Care Center, 1974 - 1977 (Board of Directors)
• Riverhills Day Care Center, 1974 - 1975 (Board of Directors)
• Iowa Women's Political Caucus, 1973 - 1975 (Founder & State Chairperson)
• Iowa Commission on the Status of Women, 1972 - 1978
• American Bar Association, 1966 - Present (Member)
• Iowa Bar Association, 1966 - Present (Member)
• Iowa Bar Association, 1987 - 1992 (Member, Bar Review Committee)
• Iowa Bar Association, Career Day Panel, 1987 - 1992 (Member)
• Iowa Bar Association, 1987 - 1992 (Member, Federal Practice Committee)
• Iowa Bar Association, 1987 - 1992 (Member, Uniform Court Instructions Committee)
• Iowa Democratic Party, 1998 - 1999 (Chair)
• Senior Women's Strategy Council - Mondale/Ferraro Campaign, 1984 (Member)
• Women for Harkin Committee, 1984 (Co-Chair)
• Food & Agricultural Policies for Democratic National Committee-Philadelphia, 1982 (Chair of the Panel)
• Carter for President, 1976 (Headquarters Volunteer)
• National Mid-term Convention, 1974 (Vice-Chair of Iowa Delegation)
• Iowa Democratic State Conventions-Delegate, 1964 - 1974 (Member of the Platform, Rules and By-Laws Committee)
• Polk County Democratic Party, 1966 - 1972 (Precinct Committeewoman)
• Hughes for United States Senate, 1968 (Volunteer)
• Iowa Young Democrats, 1965 - Present (National Committeewoman)
• Polk County Young Democrats, 1964 - 1966 (President)
• Hughes for Governor, 1966 (Volunteer)
• Hughes for Governor, 1964 (Volunteer)
• Hughes for Governor, 1962 (Volunteer)
• Department of Justice, Iowa Civil Rights Section, 1969 - 1976 (Director)
• United States Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year, 1976 - 1977 (Consultant)
• United States Attorneys, 1977 - 1981 (Attorney General's Advisory Committee)
• Attorney General's Advocacy Institute, 1977 - 1981 (Consultant)
• Iowa Trial Lawyers Association (Board of Governors)