Richard F. Mitchell graduated from Iowa State Law School and practiced law in Fort Dodge for nearly two decades. He held positions within the Democratic Party and was elected to the Iowa Supreme Court, where he served as Chief Justice and authored 465 opinions. After his tenure on the court, Mitchell returned to private practice and served as a labor mediator for Presidents Roosevelt and Truman. He later transitioned to federal service, being appointed to the Interstate Commerce Commission and serving as its chairman.

Richard F. Mitchell's political career reveals a distinctive blend of judicial pragmatism and labor advocacy, particularly during pivotal wartime periods. His role as a labor mediator for two Democratic presidents underscores a commitment to balancing industrial harmony with worker rights. Mitchell's tenure on the Iowa Supreme Court and later as chairman of the Interstate Commerce Commission indicates a strategic focus on regulatory frameworks that protect regional economic interests while navigating national policies. This juxtaposition of localized economic protectionism with federal regulatory roles presents a nuanced ideological stance worth exploring further.