Earl Payson was born in Rock Island, Illinois. He graduated from Augustana College, Rock Island, and the University of Iowa College of Law.

Throughout his varied legal career Mr. Payson has served as a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a civilian attorney for the United States Army, a corporation counsel, a city attorney and a prosecuting attorney.

He is a fellow of the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers. [Membership in the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers is limited to 250 attorneys whose primary dedication is to trial practice. Membership is by invitation only, with unanimous approval of the Board of Governors].

He is also a member of:

• The National Employment Lawyers Association
• American Trial Lawyers Association
• Iowa Trial Lawyers Association
• Iowa and Illinois Bar Associations
• The Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI.

Mr. Payson has served on the Iowa State Bar Committees on practice in the Federal Courts and Workers’ Compensation. He has also served on the Judicial Nominating Commission for the Seventh Judicial District of Iowa and the Executive Committee of the Scott County Iowa Bar Association.

He has been Chairman of the Scott County Iowa Attorney Grievance Committee and the liaison between the Scott County Bar and the Court. Mr. Payson is Board certified as a mediator by the American Academy of ADR Attorneys. He has served as a volunteer mediator for the Iowa Civil Rights Commission and currently serves as a volunteer mediator for the Civil Rights Commission of the City of Davenport, Iowa..

Mr. Payson is admitted to practice in:

• The States of Iowa and Illinois
• The United States Supreme Court
• The United States Courts of Appeal for the 7th and 8th Circuits
• The United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa and Central and Northern Districts of Illinois.