WATERLOO - A local judge is one of three finalists for a vacancy on the Iowa Court of Appeals.

The State Judicial Nominating Commission submitted the name of Judge Bruce Burton Zager, 55, a Waterloo resident, to Gov. Chet Culver on Wednesday.

The other two names submitted were Edward M. Mansfield, 51, of Des Moines, and Janece Valentine, 41, of Fort Dodge.

The governor has 30 days to pick a nominee from the list.

Zager is currently a district court judge for the 1st Judicial District, which includes Black Hawk and other northeast Iowa counties.

He received earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa in Iowa City in 1975 and his law degree from Drake University Law School in Des Moines in 1980.

Zager spent 18 years in private practice and was an assistant county attorney for 12 years before he was named to the district court bench in August 1999.

Mansfield, a 1982 Yale graduate, is an attorney with Belin Lamson McCormick Zumbach Flynn.

Valentine, who graduated from the University of Iowa law school in 1992, is a lawyer for Valentine Law Office.

The Court of Appeals seat opens Dec. 31 with the retirement of Judge Terry L. Huitink of Ireton.

Contact Jeff Reinitz at (319) 291-1578 or jeff.reinitz@wcfcourier.com.