Judge McLellan was appointed to the bench in 2012. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1979 from Drake University. He received his law degree from Drake University in 1983. In 2006 he earned a masters in law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in dispute resolution. Upon graduation from law school in 1983 he clerked for the Honorable Ronald E. Longstaff, United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. He was with the law firm of Bradshaw, Fowler, Proctor & Fairgrave, P.C. from 1984-2000 engaged in a general civil litigation practice. From 2000 until 2012 he was with the law firm of Sullivan & Ward, P.C. also engaged in general civil litigation and mediation. He is a member of the Polk County and Iowa State Bar Associations. He is an Honorary Member of the Order of the Barristers. He is a member of the Iowa Judges’ Association.