Thomas D. Waterman


Thomas D. Waterman is a justice of the Iowa Supreme Court.

Education

Waterman was born in Davenport, Iowa. He graduated with a degree in history from Dartmouth College in 1981 and Order of the Coif from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1984.

Legal career

Waterman practiced for 27 years at the Davenport law firm Lane & Waterman LLP. He was a fourth-generation partner in the firm and specialized in civil trial and appellate litigation. He was also a member of the Iowa State Judicial Nominating Commission and the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Iowa Supreme Court

Waterman was one of three justices appointed by Governor Terry Branstad in 2011. In November 2010, Iowa voters had removed all three justices seeking reelection in response to the court unanimously legalizing same-sex marriage in Varnum v. Brien. Waterman is an elected member of the American Law Institute. He is the second member of his family to serve on the Iowa Supreme Court after Charles M. Waterman, who founded Lane & Waterman.
In 2019, Waterman spoke with Steven Holt, the floor manager of a bill to modify procedures for choosing judges and the chief justice's term. Michael Gartner reported that the bill was a "power grab" by Waterman and his allies, who lobbied the legislature and wanted Waterman to replace Mark Cady before his term expired. Unlike Cady, Waterman refused to disclose his contacts with legislators or recuse himself in the ensuing litigation.