Alfredo Parrish

Alfredo Parrish is founder and senior partner of Parrish Kruidenier, where he practices in the areas of personal injury and wrongful death, criminal defense, civil rights, employment and labor law, and appellate law.  A distinguished litigator, Mr. Parrish has represented clients in over 200 jury trials, including a broad range of civil trials and more than 30 first-degree murder cases.  He has litigated several high-profile and ground-breaking cases, including arguing before the United States Supreme Court; trying the nation's first federal "three strikes" case; and, recently, handling Iowa's first death-penalty case in 40 years.  Mr. Parrish is also an established appellate lawyer, having argued nearly 200 appeals in his professional career.

Mr. Parrish has repeatedly been honored and recognized by his peers and has been selected ten years in a row for inclusion to Best Lawyers in America (see other honors and awards below).  In addition to serving on numerous boards, commissions, and task forces (see below), Mr. Parrish contributes to his community through extensive pro-bono work.

Mr. Parrish was formerly a Senior Staff Attorney at Polk County Legal Aid Society as well as a Criminal and Business Law Instructor at Des Moines Area Community College.  He has also served as Student Advisor at Drake University Law School.

Mr. Parrish is the author of "History of African American Lawyers in Iowa" (Chapter 11 of Inside Out, A History of African Americans in Iowa (2002)), Know Your Rights, A Guide Through Iowa's Criminal Justice System (1995), A Legal Guide for Family Farmers in Iowa (1985), and Only in Looking (1971), a book of poetry.  A notable speaker, Mr. Parrish routinely conducts seminars before professional associations on trial tactics and techniques and related topics.

Education:

• J.D., University of Iowa (1970)
• B.A., University of Dubuque (1967)
• A.A., Warren Wilson College (1965)

Admissions:

• Iowa State Courts (1971)
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Iowa
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Iowa
• U.S. District Court, Nebraska
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
• Supreme Court of the United States of America

Professional Associations/Memberships:

• Polk County Bar Association (Member -  Continuing Legal Education Committee)
• Iowa State Bar Association (Member -  Criminal Law, Litigation and Legal Aid Committees)
• American Bar Association
• National Bar Association
• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America
• C. Edwin Moore Inns of Court (Master)

Honors and Awards:

• Des Moines' Toughest Lawyers (City View, 1991)
• Outstanding Citizenship Award (Urban Mission, 1993)
• Man of the Year (Communicator newspaper, 1994)
• Leadership Award (K.U.C.B. and M.A.R.C.H., 1995)
• Luther T. Glanton Community Service Award (1996)
• People of the Year (City View, 1997)
• 50 most influential Iowans (Des Moines Register, 2000)

Community Service:

• University of Dubuque Board of Directors (1998-2005)
• Des Moines Art Center Board of Directors (1997-2005)
• Des Moines University Board of Directors (1994-2003)
• Des Moines Public Library Foundation Board of Directors (2004-Present)
• Iowa Civil Rights Commission (1979-1982)
• Polk County Ethics Committee (1997-2003)
• Polk County Judicial Nominating Commission (1994-2000)
• Federal Magistrate Selection Panel (1992-1996)
• Iowa Supreme Court Commission's Rules of Evidence Task Force (1994-2000)
• Equality in the Courts Task Force (1994-2000)
• Cameras in the Courtroom Task Force (1987-1989)
• Human Rights Commission's Mayor's Task Force (1990)
• Inmate Transfer Board (1982-1984)
• Des Moines Area Community College's Criminal Justice Advisory Committee (1991)