Lawyers arguing a case before the Iowa Supreme Court Tuesday presented sharply contrasting views of justice: One view is that denying an innocent defendant the right to appeal is a miscarriage of justice; the other view is that the interest of justice in finality is not served by opening the do …
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Iowa Supreme Court 2016-17 preview: Is it possible to guarantee racial balance on Iowa juries?
The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says criminal defendants have the right to a jury made up of a cross-section of the community. Assembling a jury that precisely reflects a community’s racial makeup can be statistically challenging in a state with small percentages of racial minori …
Trump will have three Eighth Circuit vacancies to fill
Besides filling the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, President Donald Trump has at least 17 vacancies to fill on the federal appeals courts around the country.
That includes three vacancies on the U.S. Court …
How Iowa’s appellate courts have changed over four decades
The Iowa Court of Appeals is celebrating an anniversary this month. Forty years ago five judges appointed to the new court by Gov. Robert D. Ray began hearing cases to relieve the growing workload of the Iowa Supreme Court.
The Legislature’s creation of t …
U.S. Supreme Court denies appeal in Iowa City murder case
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Iowa Supreme Court to hear arguments in 12 cases Sept.14 and 15
The Iowa Supreme Court will hear arguments in 12 cases Sept. 14 and 15. Five other appeals will be submitted to the Court without oral argument. Go to On Brief’s Cases in the Pipeline page to read the briefs filed with the court in these cases.
Stat …
Funeral service set for Rosemary Shaw Sackett, former Chief Judge of the Iowa Court of Appeals
Rosemary Shaw Sackett, former Chief Judge of the Iowa Court of Appeals, died Sept. 2 in Okoboji. A graveside service is scheduled for Sept. 24 in Spirit Lake.
Sackett was appointed to the Iowa Court of Appeals by Gov. …
Iowa Supreme Court begins 2022-23 term with oral arguments set for Des Moines and four other cities
The Iowa Supreme Court begins its 2022-23 term with the first round of oral arguments scheduled for Sept. 14 and 15.
Oral arguments held in the Supreme Court Courtroom in the Judicial Branch Building in Des Moines are open …
Des Moines detectives not protected by qualified immunity, federal appeals court rules
Two Des Moines police detectives are not entitled to qualified immunity from civil liability for violating the Fourth Amendment rights of a woman who resisted their efforts to have access to her minor daughter suspected of being the victim of physical abuse, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
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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.