Helping Individuals Who Have Been Hurt By Others

Practice Areas

  • Civil Remedies for Victims of Crime
  • Civil Litigation
  • Trial and Appellate Practice
  • Personal Injury
  • Employment Discrimination
  • Medical Malpractice Law
Rated by Super Lawyers Roxanne Conlin SuperLawyers.com
Rated By Super Lawyers Roxanne Conlin 15 years
Rated by Super Lawyers Top 10 Iowa SuperLawyers.com
Rated by Super Lawyers Top 25 Great Plains SuperLawyers.com

Biography

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

 

Education

  • Drake University Law School, Des Moines, Iowa
    • J.D. - 1966
    • Honors: Fischer Foundation Scholar
    • Honors: Representative, American Law Student Association
    • Honors: Dean: Kappa Beta Phi Legal Sorority, 1964
  • Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa
    • Master's Degree in Public Administration - 1979
    • Honors: Pi Alpha Alpha, Honorary Society in Public Affairs & Administration, 1978
  • Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa
    • Bachelor of Arts - 1964
    • Honors: Phi Beta Kappa
    • Honors: Alpha Lambda Delta, Women's Honorary Sorority
    • Honors: Chi Omega Social Service Award
    • Honors: National Merit Scholarship Finalist
    • Honors: Reader's Digest Scholar
    • Honors: Kappa Beta Pi Legal Sorority (International)
  • Harvard University
    • Honors: Recipient, Seminar Grant: Limits of Positivism: Certainty & Justice in the Law. August, 1980.

Bar Admissions

  • Iowa, 1966

Professional Associations

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

Published Works

  • ATLA's Litigating Tort Cases, West Publishing Company, June, 2003
  • 'In Defense of the American Trial Lawyer', The Aspen Quarterly, Vol. V, No.11, Page 128, Spring, 1993
  • 'Loser Pays' Rule: Who Pays for Injustice (With Clarence L. King, Jr.), National Law Journal, July, 1992
  • 'Loser Pays' Rule: Who Pays for Injustice (Co-Authored with Clarence L. King, Jr.), 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 Disputed', National Law Journal, July, 1991
  • 'Litigation Explosion Disputed', Trial Magazine p. 114
  • 'Litigation Explosion - Tempest in a Teapot?', ATLA, Nov., 1991
  • 'Women, Power and the Law', 26 Trial 22, February, 1990
  • 'Landlord Liability for Criminal Attack on Client', 35 Am. Jur. Trials, 1987
  • United States Commission on International Women's Year, Legal Status of Homemakers in Iowa, November, 1976
  • 'Government Policy and the Legal Status of Women', Women in the Professions, Ed. Laurily Epstein, Lexington Books, 1976
  • Equal Protection vs. The Equal Rights Amendment - Where Are We Now?, 24 Drake Law Review 259, Winter, 1975
  • “Voir Dire for the Plaintiff in a Medical Malpractice Case”, Jury Selection – 4th Edition, Aspen Publishers, 2010

Representative Cases

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

Honors

  • Attorney and Practice Magazine’s Top 10 Personal Injury Attorney
  • AAJ Distinguished Service Award
  • Best Lawyers U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firms
  • American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys Attorney Client Satisfaction 10 Best High Verdict & Settlement Winner
  • Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Related for Highest Level of Professional Excellence
  • Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent Highest Possible Rating in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards
  • Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers
  • Business Finance Sector Excellence Global Business Awards – Best Personal Injury & Discrimination Attorneys Iowa
  • Best Lawyers Sixth Annual “Women in the Law”
  • Expertise’s Best Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Des Moines
  • Martindale Hubbell Top Rated Lawyer Medical Malpractice for Ethical Standards and Legal Ability
  • American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys 10 Best High Verdict & Settlement
  • Marquis Who’s Who Top Professional Series
  • Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Related for Highest Level of Professional Excellence
  • Martindale Hubbell Highest Possible Rating in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards
  • Best of the Best Attorneys Top 10 Personal Injury Law Attorney
  • Lawdragon 500 To Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers; Hall of Fame
  • Interfaith Alliance Award
  • Iowa Women’s Foundation Ovation - A Tribute to Iowa Women and Girls
  • 10 Best Attorneys – American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys
  • Martindale Hubbell Judicial Edition Highest Possible Rating in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards Reflecting the Confidential Opinions of Members of the Bar and Judiciary
  • Benchmark Litigation Labor & Employment – Midwest Regional Best
  • The World Food Prize Robert D. Ray Iowa SHARES Humanitarian Award
  • Lawdragon 500 Plaintiff Employment Lawyers Guide
  • 10 Best Attorneys – American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys
  • Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating Highest Possible Rating in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards
  • America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators for Iowa
  • The American Registry Top 1 Percent America’s Most Honored Professionals
  • Albert Nelson Marquis Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement Award
  • 10 Best Female Attorneys – American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys
  • 10 Best Attorneys – American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys
  • The American Registry Top 1 Percent America’s Most Honored Professionals
  • 10 Best Female Attorneys – American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys
  • The American Registry Top 1 Percent America’s Most Honored Professionals
  • Elected as Senior Fellow with Litigation Counsel of America
  • Donald Lay Award
  • Bloomer/Catt Award for Public Service, Status of Women Conference
  • Alumni Achievement Award - Drake Law School
  • 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
  • Recognized as being in the top 5% of America’s Most Honored Professionals
  • Community Champion Award from the Civil Justice Foundation
  • National Championship Honoree from the American Mock Trial Association
  • Community Champion Award from the Civil Justice Foundation
  • Selected as one of Labor & Employment’s Best Lawyers
  • Gertrude Rush Award from Iowa State Bar Association
  • Selected as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation
  • Selected as one of Midwest CEO’s Most Influential Women of 2009
  • Selected as one of Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Lawyers in America
  • Iowa Senate Resolution 134 commending work and congratulating for accomplishments, passed unanimously
  • 2008 Louise Noun Visionary Women Award – awarded by the Young Women’s Resource Center
  • Inducted into Iowa Legal Aid Hall of Fame
  • 1st recipient of the Iowa Trial Lawyer’s Public Justice Award, named the Roxanne Conlin Public Justice Award
  • Inducted into the Iowa Democratic Party Hall of Fame as Outstanding Supporter
  • Elected to Litigation Counsel of America
  • 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
  • Activist Leader Award from Drake University, United Way and the Des Moines ‘Business Record’
  • Association of Trial Lawyers of America, National College of Advocacy, Diplomat of Trial Advocacy
  • Iowa Juneteenth Observance Liberty Award
  • The Iowa Shares Special Recognition in Iowa for efforts to resettle Vietnamese boat people in Iowa
  • Ruth Bader Ginsburg Award from NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund
  • The 2004 Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers 88th Edition
  • Lifetime Achievement Award from ATLA
  • Mary Louise Smith Human Rights Award from the Des Moines Human Rights Commission
  • Elected to Membership in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
  • Award from Very Special Arts of Iowa Serving Disabled Iowans
  • Award from United Way for work with Young Women’s Resource Center
  • Named by National Law Journal as One of the Ten Most Influential Women Attorneys
  • Mary Louise Smith Award for Racial Justice from the YWCA
  • Marie Lambert Award for Equality for Women from the Association of Trial Lawyers of America
  • Selected as One of Twelve Most Influential Women by the Des Moines ‘Business Record’
  • Named One of the Fifty Most Influential Iowans of the Twentieth Century by Des Moines Register
  • Martindale Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Attorneys
  • International Society of Lawyers for Public Service
  • Kansas City Association of Women Lawyers established the Annual Roxanne Barton Conlin Scholarship
  • Rosalie Wahl Leadership Award from the Minnesota Women Lawyers Association
  • Named by the National Law Journal as one of “The Fifty Most Influential Women Lawyers in America”
  • Named Woman of the Year by the Metro Women's Network
  • Elected to Membership in the Inner Circle of Advocates
  • Featured in Best Lawyers in America for Employment Law – Individuals and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Elected to membership in the American Law Institute
  • APEX Award recognizing excellence in opinion column writing for President's Page in Trial of June, 1993 on Alcoholism
  • Verne Lawyer Outstanding Member Award from the Iowa Association of Trial Lawyers
  • Elected to Membership in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers
  • 7th Annual Chester Bedell Memorial Lecture
  • Life Fellow of the Iowa State Bar Association
  • One of the women featured in the book More Strongminded Women by Louise Noun (ISU Press)
  • Named one of 100 most influential lawyers in the nation by National Law Journal
  • Elected to Membership in the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers
  • Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy
  • Diplomat of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys
  • Outstanding Alumni Award, Drake University Law School
  • Woman of Vision Award, Young Women's Resource Center
  • Named one of the nation’s top ten litigators in an article in the National Law Journal
  • Iowa Citizens Action Network Annual Award for Public Service
  • Iowa Women's Hall of Fame
  • Omicron Delta Kappa, Alumni Member
  • Award for Outstanding Assistance - United States Secret Service
  • Special Commendation - Director of Federal Bureau of Investigation
  • Special Commendation - United States Postal Inspection Service
  • Chosen in article in McCall's Magazine (November issue) as one of 44 Women qualified for a Cabinet Position
  • Honorary Doctor of Laws, University of Dubuque
  • Chosen in article in Redbook Magazine as one of "44 Women Who Could Save America"
  • Outstanding Service to Civil Liberties presented by the Iowa Civil Liberties Union
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. award for outstanding service presented by Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of N.A. AFL-CIO
  • The Outstanding Young Woman of Iowa

Classes & Seminars

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

Pro-Bono Activities

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

Past Positions

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

Certified Legal Specialties

  • Certified Civil Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1991