Marsha Ternus, a 2015 inductee into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame, was appointed to the Iowa Supreme Court in 1993 by Gov. Terry Branstad. The members of the court selected her as Chief Justice in 2006, the first woman to serve in that role. Her court service ended on Dec. 31, 2010.  

During her 17 years on the Supreme Court, Ternus worked on a number of court initiatives and other efforts to improve the administration of justice, including improving access to the courts and improving the court’s oversight of cases involving abused and neglected children.

Where she’s been

After law school, Ternus worked for 16 years in private practice of law in Des Moines, with a primary emphasis on civil litigation and insurance law. In May 2012, Ternus and two of her former colleagues on the court received the 2012 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award.

Ternus currently practices law in Des Moines, lectures and teaches nationally and internationally on various subjects, including judicial independence, and serves as director of the Harkin Institute for Public Policy and Citizen Engagement at Drake University.

Connection points

Ternus is a native of Iowa, growing up on a farm in northern Benton County. She graduated from Washington High School in Vinton, and received her bachelor’s degree with honors and high distinction, Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Iowa in 1972. She earned her law degree with honors, Order of the Coif, from Drake University Law School in 1977. She has received honorary degrees from Iowa Wesleyan College, Simpson College, Coe College and Drake University.

Contact her

Find her on LinkedIn and her website.

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