UPDATES & ANALYSIS

4.20

Iowa Supreme Court Sharply Divided on Constitutional Challenge to the State’s Education System

by Ryan Koopmans | April 20, 2012

By Ryan Koopmans

The Iowa Supreme Court today decided King et al. v. State of Iowa, affirming the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by sixteen students or parents of students in public schools challenging Iowa’s educational public system on various statutory and constitutional provisions.

The opinion of the Court affirming the dismissal was written by Justice Mansfield, joined by Chief Justice Cady, and Justices Waterman and Zager.

Chief Justice Cady and Justice Waterman also filed separate concurring opinions.

Justice Wiggins dissented, joined by Justices Hecht and Appel.

Justice Appel wrote a separate dissent as well, which was joined by Justice Hecht.

All the opinions total 163 pages and include some significant discussions about the appropriate role of the judiciary. This case was initially submitted to the court in March 2010, but was reargued in June 2011 after three new Justices were added to the Court. More analysis will follow.

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