Helping Individuals Who Have Been Hurt By Others

Curriculum Vitae

attorney

PROFESSIONAL

1991-Present

Roxanne Conlin & Associates, P.C.
Law Firm Focus: Civil Litigation
Employment Civil Rights, Personal Injury, and Constitutional Law

1983-1990

Galligan and Conlin, P.C.
Law Firm Focus: Civil Litigation
Employment, Civil Rights, Personal Injury and Constitutional Law

1982

Democratic nominee for Governor of the State of Iowa.

1977-1981

United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa. Attorney General’s Advisory Committee of United States Attorneys. Consultant: Attorney General Advocacy Institute.

1977-1979

Adjunct Professor of Law, University of Iowa Law School.
First Course on Women and the Law in Iowa

1976-1977

Consultant to the United States Commission on the Observance of International Women’s Year, United States Department of State.

1969-1976

Assistant Attorney General for the State of Iowa Director, Iowa Civil Rights Section, Department of Justice –
Duties included prosecution of anti-trust suits and removal of public officials guilty of public misconduct

1967-1968

Deputy Industrial Commissioner.

1966-1967

Private Practice.

HONORS AND AWARDS

2018 10 Best Personal Injury Attorneys
2018

AV Preeminent Rating Highest Possible Rating in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards

2018 America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators for Iowa
2017 Albert Nelson Marquis Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement Award
2017 10 Best Female Attorneys
2016 10 Best Female Attorneys
2015 Elected as Senior Fellow with Litigation Counsel of America
2014 Donald Lay Award
2013 Bloomer/Catt Award for Public Service. Status of Women Conference
2013

Alumni Achievement Award – Drake Law School.

2013

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.

2011 Recognized as being in the top 5% of America’s Most Honored Professionals
2011 Community Champion Award from the Civil Justice Foundation
2011 National Championship Honoree from the American Mock Trial Association
2010 Community Champion Award from the Civil Justice Foundation.
2010 Selected as one of Labor & Employment’s Best Lawyers.

2009

Gertrude Rush Award from Iowa State Bar Association

2009

Selected as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation

2009

Selected as one of Midwest CEO’s Most Influential Women of 2009

2008

Selected as one of Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Lawyers in America

2008

Iowa Senate Resolution 134 commending work and congratulating for accomplishments, passed unanimously

2008

2008 Louise Noun Visionary Women Award – awarded by the Young Women’s Resource Center

2008

Inducted into Iowa Legal Aid Hall of Fame

2007

1st recipient of the Iowa Trial Lawyer’s Public Justice Award, named the Roxanne Conlin Public Justice Award

2007

Inducted into the Iowa Democratic Party Hall of Fame as Outstanding Supporter

2007

Elected to Litigation Counsel of America

2006

Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Leonard M. Ring Champion of Justice Award – this is awarded each year to a member whose life and career epitomizes that of a true champion of justice.

2005

Activist Leader Award from Drake University, United Way and Business Record

2005

Iowa Trial Lawyers Association, 2005 ITLA Public Justice Award in Recognition of Persistence and Determination in Pursuing Successful Litigation that Establishes the Right to Trial by Jury for Plaintiffs in Civil Rights Cases under the Iowa Civil Rights Act.

2005

Association of Trial Lawyers of America, National College of Advocacy, Diplomate of Trial Advocacy

2005

Iowa Juneteenth Observance Liberty Award

2005

The Iowa Shares Special Recognition Award

2004

Ruth Bader Ginsburg Award from NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund

2003

Lifetime Achievement Award from ATLA

2003

Mary Louise Smith Human Rights Award from the Des Moines Human Rights Commission.

2002

Elected to Membership in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers

2002

Award from Very Special Arts of Iowa

2002

Award from United Way for work with Young Women’s Resource Center

2002

Named by National Law Journal as One of the Ten Most Influential Women Attorneys

2001

Mary Louise Smith Award for Racial Justice by the YWCA.

2000

Marie Lambert Award for Equality for Women from the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

2000

Selected as One of Twelve Most Influential Women by the Des Moines Business Record.

2000

Named One of the Fifty Most Influential Iowans by Des Moines Register.

1999

Martindale Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Attorneys

1999

International Society of Lawyers for Public Service

1999

Kansas City Association of Women Lawyers established the Annual Roxanne Barton Conlin Scholarship

1998

Rosalie Wahl Leadership Award from the Minnesota Women Lawyers Association.

1998

Named by the National Law Journal as one of “The Fifty Most Influential Women Lawyers in America”

1997

Named Woman of the Year by the Metro Women’s Network.

1995-Present

Featured in Best Lawyers in America.

1995

Elected to Membership in the Inner Circle of Advocates

1994

Elected to membership in the American Law Institute.

1994

APEX Award recognizing excellence in opinion column writing for President’s Page in Trial of June, 1993.

1993

Verne Lawyer Outstanding Member Award from the Iowa Association of Trial Lawyers.

1993

Elected to Membership in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.

1992

Life Fellow of the Iowa State Bar Association.

1992

One of the women featured in the book More Strongminded Women by Louise Noun (ISU Press).

1991

Named one of 100 most influential lawyers in the nation by National Law Journal.

1991

Elected to Membership in the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers.

1991

Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

1990

Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys.

1989

Outstanding Alumni Award, Drake University Law School.

1989

Woman of Vision Award, Young Women’s Resource Center.

1989

Named one of the ten top litigators in an article in the National Law Journal.

1987

Iowa Citizens Action Network Annual Award for Public Service.

1981

Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame.

1981

Omicron Delta Kappa, Alumni Member.

1981

Award for Outstanding Assistance – United States Secret Service.

1979

Special Commendation – Director of Federal Bureau of Investigation.

1978

Special Commendation – United States Postal Inspection Service.

1976

Chosen in article in McCall’s Magazine (November issue) as one of 44 Women Qualified for a Cabinet Position.

1975

Honorary Doctor of Laws, University of Dubuque.

1975

Chosen in article in Redbook Magazine as one of “44 Women Who Could Save America”.

1974

Outstanding Service to Civil Liberties presented by the Iowa Civil Liberties Union.

1974

Martin Luther King, Jr. award for outstanding service presented by Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of N.A. AFL-CIO.

1974

Outstanding Young Woman of Iowa.

CIVIC AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

2000 – Current

Elected to membership in the Litigation Counsel of America,
National Center for State Court Lawyers Committee, 2003 – 2006
Board of Directors Trial Lawyers Care, the National Pro Bono Effort
for the Victims of the September 11th Tragedy, 2001 – 2004

1990 –

President – Roscoe Pound Foundation, 1994 – 1997
Elected to Membership in the American Law Institute, 1994 – Present
Trustee in the American Jury Trial Foundation, 1993 – Present
President of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1992 – 1993;
President-Elect (1991-1992); Vice-President (1990-1991);
Secretary (1989-1990); Parliamentarian (1988-1989); and
ATLA-PAC Board of Directors (1987-1989)
Chair of the following Association of Trial Lawyers of America committees: Organization Review Committee; Education Committee; Membership Oversight Committee; Consumer and Victims Coalition Committee; Safety Conference Committee; Member of Roscoe Pound Foundation Board of Governors, and various other committees (1986- 1992)
Board of Directors of the National Association of Former United States Attorneys, 1991 – 2000
Advisory Board Member – Older Iowans’ Permanent Fund Foundation, 1991 – 1997
Board Member – Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, 1991 – 2000
Honorary Board Member, Animal Rescue League of Iowa, 1990 – 1995

1980 –

Master of the Bench, Blackstone Inn, American Inns of Court, 1989 –
Present
Co-Chair, Higher Education Task Force of the State of Iowa, 1988 – 1992
Advisory Board, Coalition for Women’s Appointments, 1988 – 1990
President, Civil Justice Foundation, 1986 – 1988
Council on Judicial Selection, Appointed by Chief Justice Reynoldsen,
1986
Board of Directors, YWCA, 1986 – 1988
Chair, Board of Governors, Drake University Law School Endowment
Trust, 1985 – 1986
Board of Governors, Association of Trial Lawyers of Iowa, 1984 – 1995
Board of Directors, NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund, 1983 – 1989
President, 1986 to 1988; General Counsel, 1985-1986
Board of Directors, Dowling High School, 1981 – 2001
President, Vice President, Federal Executive Council, 1979 – 1981

1970 –

Member, Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, 1979 – Present
Board of Directors, Iowa Shares Program, 1978 – 1980
Advisory Board, National Women’s Political Caucus, 1977 – 1992
Law Board of Counselors for Drake University Law School, 1977 – 1985
Panelist, Upper Midwest Council – Critical Choice Project, 1976 – 1977
Youth for Understanding, Bicentennial Committee of Iowa, 1976
Administrative Committee Member, National Women’s Political Caucus,
1975 – 1977
Board of Directors, Polk County Rape/Sexual Assault Care Center,
1974 – 1977
Board of Directors, Riverhills Day Care Center, 1974 – 1975
Founder and State Chairperson, Iowa Women’s Political Caucus,
1973 – 1975
Iowa Commission on the Status of Women,
Member, American Bar Association and various sections and committees,
Member, Iowa Bar Association, 1966 – Present; Career Day Panel, Bar
Review Committee, Federal Practice Committee, Uniform Court Instructions Committee (1987-1992)

EDUCATIONAL

Drake University. Bachelor of Arts, 1964. Phi Beta Kappa. Alpha Lambda Delta, Women’s Honorary Sorority. Chi Omega Social Service Award for work with underprivileged children. National Merit Scholarship Finalist. Reader’s Digest Scholar.

Drake University Law School. Juris Doctorate, 1966. Law Review. Representative to American Law Student Association. Fischer Foundation Scholar. Dean: Kappa Beta Phi Legal Sorority.

Drake University. Master’s Degree in Public Administration, 1979. Pi Alpha Alpha, Honorary Society in Public Affairs and Administration, 1978.

Harvard University. Recipient: Grant for Seminar entitled Limits of Positivism: Certainty and Justice in the Law. August, 1980.

NOTABLE LISTINGS

Who’s Who in America
Who’s Who in American Law
Who’s Who in Government
Who’s Who of American Women
Who’s Who in the Middlewest
Who’s Who in Politics
Dictionary of International Biography
World’s Who’s Who of Women
The Best Lawyers in America
Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers

SELECTED ARTICLES AND BOOK CHAPTERS

“Voir Dire for the Plaintiff in a Medical Malpractice Case,” Jury Selection – 4th Edition, (Aspen Publishers 2010)

“ATLA’s Litigating Tort Cases,” 6 volumes, Co-editor West Publishing Company (June 2003)

“In Defense of the American Trial Lawyer,” The Aspen Institute Quarterly (Spring, 1993, Volume V, No. II, Page 128)

“‘Loser Pays’ Rule: Who Pays for Injustice,” with Clarence L. King, Jr., National Law Journal, July, 1992 (Reprinted in Trial Magazine, October 1992)

“Making the Opposing Expert Tell the Truth,” 22 Trial Lawyers Quarterly, No. 1, p. 50 (Fall 1991)

“Voir Dire Examination and Jury Selection,” Anatomy of a Personal Injury Lawsuit – 3rd Edition (ATLA Press 1991)

“Litigation Explosion Dispute,” National Law Journal, July 29, 1991 (Reprinted in Trial Magazine, p. 114, “Litigation Explosion’ Tempest in a Teapot?,” Nov. 1991 as published by ATLA)

“Women, Power, and the Law,” 26 Trial, 22 (Feb. 1990)

“Landlord Liability for Criminal Attack on Client,” 35 Am. Jur. Trials 1 (1987)

Legal Status of Homemakers in Iowa, United States Commission on International Women’s Year, November, 1976

“Government Policy and the Legal Status of Women,” Women in the Professions, Ed. Laurily Keir Epstein, Lexington Books, 1976

Equal Protection vs. The Equal Rights Amendment – Where Are We Now?, 24 Drake Law Review 259 (Winter 1975)

PERSONAL

Born June 30, 1944 in Huron, South Dakota.

Married to James C. Conlin; March 24, 1964; 4 children; 5 grandchildren.

POLITICAL

2010 Democratic Nominee for Iowa for United States Senate

2008

Co-Chair Edwards for President

2007

Inducted into the Iowa Democratic Party Hall of Fame as Outstanding Supporter

2004

Co-Chair Edwards for President

Nov. 1998 – April 1999

Chair, Iowa Democratic Party

1984

Member, Senior Women’s Strategy Council – Mondale/Ferraro Campaign

1984

Co-chair women for Harkin Committee

1983 -1984

Chair, National Policy Council, John Glenn for President Committee

1982

Democratic Nominee for Governor of Iowa

June 1982

Chair of the panel on Food & Agricultural Policies for Democratic National Committee – Philadelphia

1976

Headquarters Volunteer – Carter for President

1974

Vice-Chair of Iowa Delegation to the National Mid-term Convention

1964 – 1974

Delegate – Iowa Democratic State Conventions, Member of the Platform, Rules and By-Laws Committee

1966 – 1972

Precinct Committeewoman – Polk County Democratic Party

1968

Volunteer – Hughes for United State Senate

1965 – 1956

National Committeewoman – Iowa Young Democrats

1964 – 1966

President – Polk County Young Democrats

1962 – 1966

Volunteer – Hughes for Governor