Nicholas Wilson (JD/MHA '22): Federal Court
This summer I had the great pleasure and honor of working for a federal judge, drafting orders on dispositive motions before the Court, conducting legal research, and offering legal analysis during the judicial decision-making process. That is all a fancy way of saying that I had the opportunity to step behind the curtain and put myself in the judge’s shoes as the Court decided cases.
As a summer law clerk in federal court, I worked on matters that came before the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Iowa has two federal district courts: the Northern District and
the Southern District. The Northern District has courthouses in Cedar Rapids
and Sioux City. The Southern District has courthouses in Des Moines, Davenport,
and Council Bluffs. Federal district court judges hear several categories of
cases. Simply put, the cases most often stem from two broad categories of
litigation: criminal and civil.
Federal judges are appointed by the president of the United
States and are confirmed by the United States Senate. They try cases where the
United States Government has charged an individual with a federal crime or
crimes, and they also try cases where two or more individuals or businesses are
engaged in a civil legal dispute and decided to take the matter to court. Four
judges sit in the Northern District of Iowa.
You may have heard someone exclaim that they are going to “take their case all the way to the Supreme Court!” They may be able to do so, but they’ll need to go through the United States Court of Appeals first. When cases reach a final decision in federal district court, the parties often have the right to appeal a judge’s decision in their case to the United States Court of Appeals. Iowa is located in the Eighth Circuit. The United States Court of Appeals is divided into 13 circuits. The D.C. Circuit and the Federal Circuit are located in Washington D.C., and the remaining 11 circuits are apportioned across the United States. The Eighth Circuit includes Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Arkansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Any federal appeals from those states are brought to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals for consideration. Fourteen (14) judges sit on the Eighth Circuit. Three (3) Eighth Circuit judges live and work in Iowa, although they often travel to St. Louis and St. Paul to hear cases.
You may well be thinking, “that’s all great, but what about healthcare?” The court consistently hears cases involving healthcare issues, either as the main point of contention or as a tangential matter that must also be decided to resolve the case. Common examples include disputes between two health systems, between a health system and a patient, between parties involved with health insurance, or even in criminal cases where issues of the criminal defendant’s health or health insurance are at issue.
My goal is to become a litigator who works on civil cases involving health law. My job this summer was an excellent introduction to the world of complex federal litigation involving healthcare issues and what practicing law as an attorney in health litigation will look like. I can’t wait to jump in after graduation!
One of my first loves is travel. Outside of work I got to
spend a lot of time with friends and family on trips across the country. Over
the course of the summer, I spent time in eight states. I took part in
activities ranging from water sports, hiking, and mountaineering, to glass
blowing, museum touring, and restaurant hunting.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this summer and I look forward to
heading back to UI for my final year!
*A Note From The Editor*
If you would like to keep up with Nicholas, you can find him here on LinkedIn!
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