A lawyer who is suing the Iowa Judicial Nominating Commission for some Iowa clients has been named to the commission by Gov. Terry Branstad.

In their lawsuit, the clients of William Gustoff (GUHS'-tahf) allege that the makeup of the commission is biased against nonlawyers because they have no say in the selection of half the commission.

The Des Moines Register says that half the commission is lawyers, elected by lawyers; the other half traditionally is made up of nonlawyers appointed by the governor. Gustoff's appointment is a departure, but it is not barred by Iowa law.