Minnesota State Court; Iowa State Court; South Dakota State Court; Nebraska State Court; Northern District of Iowa Federal Court; United States Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals; Winnebago Tribal Court.
Memberships
Minnesota State Bar Association; South Dakota State Bar Association; Nebraska State Bar Association; Iowa State Bar Association-Family Law Section; Iowa Association for Justice f/k/a Iowa Trial Lawyers Association; Woodbury County Bar Association; Iowa Organization of Women Attorneys – Board of Directors (2011); Iowa Foster and Adoptive Parents Association; Northwest Iowa Collaborative Law Professionals; International Academy of Collaborative Professionals; Woodbury County Bar Association-Fee Arbitration Committee.
Biography
Amanda was an active member of the South Dakota Law Review and volunteered as a C.A.S.A. (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for abused and neglected children involved in juvenile court while attending law school. After law school, Amanda was a law clerk for the Second Judicial Circuit Court in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Amanda entered private practice in 2006 starting in Sioux City, Iowa at the Vriezelaar, Tigges, Edgington, Bottaro, Boden & Ross, L.L.P. law firm as an associate. She became a partner at the firm in 2011.
In March of 2015, Amanda accepted the position of special prosecutor with the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. As the special prosecutor, she represented the Tribe in the prosecution of all child and family court proceedings involving abuse, neglect, dependency and child in need of supervision cases. In addition to practicing as an attorney and special prosecutor, Amanda also worked in the legal community as a divorce and family law mediator.
In June 2015, Amanda left the Vriezelaar Law Firm and founded Van Wyhe Law Firm & Mediation Center, PLC in Sioux City, Iowa. Amanda continued her practice in Sioux City until early 2024 when she moved to Minnesota. Amanda now represents divorce and family law clients out of the VWLF offices in Rochester and Owatonna.
Over the years, Amanda has served the legal community in many ways. To name a few – in 2009, she was officially recognized and commended by the Iowa Supreme Court for contributing more than 50 hours of pro bono service. In 2014, Amanda was elected to serve on the Judicial Nominating Commission for Judicial Election District 3B. Her term ended in 2019. Amanda also served on the Woodbury County Bar Association Fee Arbitration Committee.
Education
Law School: University of South Dakota (J.D. 2005) Lead Articles Editor, South Dakota Law Review
College: University of South Dakota (B.A. 2002) Honors Program, University Scholar – Thesis with Distinction
Publications
“An Argument in Favor of Abrogating the Use of the Best Interests of the Child Standard to Circumvent the Jurisdictional Provisions of the Indian Child Welfare Act in South Dakota,” 49 South Dakota Law Review 107 (2004).
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