Elizabeth S. Kruidenier

From her time as an Associate Attorney with Polk County Legal Aid to becoming a named partner in the law office of Parrish Kruidenier, Elizabeth S. Kruidenier has held fast to her principles and has always been willing to fight for those principles whenever justice requires. 

It was Ms. Kruidenier's work on reapportionment issues with the Iowa League of Women Voters that piqued her interest in constitutional law and led to her enrolling in law school at Drake University.  Now, decades later, Ms. Kruidenier has appeared before the United States Supreme Court and has built a legal career out of championing the causes of social and economic justice, racial equality, women's rights, and access to education.

Ms. Kruidenier has been honored as a YMCA Woman of Achievement (1998) and a Des Moines Ambassador (1965), and is a recipient of the Jewish War Veterans' Americanism Award.  Ms. Kruidenier practices in the areas of civil rights, criminal defense, employment and labor law, personal injury and wrongful death, appellate law, and family law.  She has been a certified family law specialist since 2000.

Education:

• J.D., Drake University Law School (1973)
• B.A., Connecticut College, with one year of coursework at University of Iowa

Admissions:

• Iowa State Courts (1974)
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Iowa (1985)
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Iowa (1984)
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit (1984)
• Supreme Court of the United States of America (1993)

Professional Associations/Memberships:

• Polk County Bar Association
• Iowa State Bar Association
• American Bar Association

Community Service:

• Terrace Hill Foundation (1999-Present)
• Planned Parenthood Foundation (1998-Present)
• Blank Park Zoo Foundation, Vice President (1995-Present)
• Volunteer Lawyers Project (1985-Present)
• Gardner and Florence Cowles Foundation (Trustee, 1970-Present)
• Interfaith Alliance (1995-2001)
• Homestead (1994-1999)
• Morris Scholarship Fund (1993-2000)
• Connecticut College, Trustee (1988-1998)
• Drake University Black Cultural Center (Advisory Committee, 1986-1995)
• Des Moines Birth Place (1984-1986)
• Des Moines Art Center (1983-1986)
• Youth Law Center (1979-1982)
• Polk County Health Services (1977-1980, 1982-1984)
• Des Moines Symphony Association (1976-1980, 1993-1999)
• Grinnell College, Trustee (1968-1986)
• Iowa Civil Rights Commission (1965-1975)
• Des Moines Child Guidance Center (1965-1971)
• National Community Relations Service (Citizen's Advisory Committee, 1965)
• N.A.A.C.P. National Board, Legal Defense and Education Fund (1962-1963)
• Know Your Neighbor Panel (1960-1971)

Representative Cases:

• John Deere Leasing Co. v. Fraker, 395 N.W.2d 885 (Iowa 1986). Summary judgment against client for $25,000 was reversed by the Iowa Supreme Court.
• State v. Robinson, 389 N.W.2d 401 (Iowa 1986). Client's attempted murder convictions were reversed by the Iowa Supreme Court, which found that the trial court abused its discretion in denying client's motion for change of venue in a highly-publicized trial.
• Collins v. Federal Land Bank, 421 N.W.2d 136 (Iowa 1988). Appeals court reversed summary judgment of dental patient, holding that extrajudicial admissions could constitute expert medical testimony &emdash effectively allowing a malpractice suit against client's former dentist