Convicted offenders serving indeterminate prison sentences in Iowa do not have a constitutional right to parole, the Iowa Supreme Court has held in the past. But in a decision handed down Nov. 23, Bomgaars, et al., v. State, the Cou …
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Appeals court rejects Hearst’s bid for reconsideration of defamation ruling involving Iowa dairy farm
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit Tuesday denied the publisher of Esquire magazine’s request for rehearing of its Sept. 15 panel ruling reversing in part a district court decision dismissing California Congressman Devin Nunes’ defamation suit against the company.
Hearst Magazines Inc., the pub …
Iowa Supreme Court to hear arguments in seven appeals Tuesday and Wednesday
The Iowa Supreme Court will hear arguments in seven cases Nov. 16 and 17, and seven other cases will be submitted to the court without oral arguments.
Following are brief summaries of the November cases. Go to On Brief’s “Cases in the Pipeline” page to read briefs su …
Esquire magazine seeks new hearing on Eighth Circuit defamation ruling involving Iowa dairy farm
The publisher of Esquire magazine is asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit to reconsider its Sept. 15 panel ruling that the magazine published potentially defamatory statements about California Congressman Devin Nunes and his family’s dairy farm in Iowa.
In its read more
Iowa Supreme Court to hear arguments in 10 cases Wednesday and Thursday
The Iowa Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in 10 appeals Oct. 20 and 21. Another four cases will be submitted to the Court without argument.
Following are summaries of 12 of those cases. Go to On Brief’s Cases in the Pipeline page to read briefs in these appea …
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Iowa Supreme Court holds Black defendant not harmed by juror strike, but three justices object to a race-related reference in juror questioning
A prosecutor did not discriminate against a Black criminal defendant by striking a Black member of the jury pool, the Iowa Supreme Court held in a decision handed down April 21, but three members of the Court in a separate opinion expressed …
Iowa Supreme Court unanimously overturns 2017 Godfrey precedent establishing direct damages claims under Iowa Constitution
In an opinion filed May 5, 2023 in Burnett v. Smith and State of Iowa the Iowa Supreme Court overruled its 2017 opinion in Godfrey v. State, which recognized a private right of action for damages against State officials f …
An entity created by local governments is beyond the State Auditor’s reach, according to the Iowa Supreme Court
The Iowa State Auditor is empowered by the Iowa Code to audit agencies of the state government and certain governmental subdivisions of the State, including cities and counties. Meanwhile, local governments are authorized by the Iowa Code to form collaborative entities. Does that mean the State Auditor has authority to audi …
Fired Catholic school principal won’t get new trial, Iowa Supreme Court rules
A former principal of St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Des Moines will not get a new trial in her unsuccessful civil action against the Catholic Diocese of Des Moines, St. Joseph’s Church, and the pastor who supervised her, for fraud and defamation by all defendants, and breach of contract against the pastor, Father Jose …
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On Brief: Iowa’s Appellate Blog is devoted to appellate litigation with a focus on the Iowa Supreme Court, the Iowa Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.