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Iowa Supreme Court to hear arguments in 11 cases Wednesday and Thursday
The Iowa Supreme Court will hear arguments in 11 appeals Oct. 14 and 15. In addition, three cases will be submitted to the Court this week without oral argument.
Following are brief summaries of the October cases. Go to On Brief’s Cases in the Pipeline page to read brief …
read moreIowa Chief Justice Christensen explains her rural roots in new podcast interview
Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen talks about her roots in rural Iowa and her journey from working up from a legal secretary to the pinnacle of Iowa’s court system in an interview on the “In the Balance” read more
Lawyers overwhelmingly back Iowa judges for retention in November election
Ninety-five Iowa judges — including four members of the Iowa Supreme Court and four members of the Iowa Court of Appeals — will be standing for retention in the Nov. 3 General Election.
Under Iowa’s judicial selection process, judges and justices are appointed by the governor from a list of applicants selected by non …
read moreIowa Supreme Court denies requests for interlocutory review on absentee ballot request forms
Iowa Supreme kicks off its 2020-21 term with oral arguments this week
The Iowa Supreme Court will hear its first round of oral arguments of the 2020-21 term Wednesday and Thursday, and the first in person oral arguments heard since March due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Sept. 16 and 17 oral arguments will feature justices, attorneys, court staff, and members of the public observing the …
read moreIowa Supreme Court 2019-20 term review: A year of historic challenges
The Iowa Supreme Court’s 2019-20 term was marked by change and disruption. Change came with the appointment of two new justices and the selection of a new chief justice. Disruption came with the coronavirus outbreak that suspended oral arguments and closed the Judicial Branch Building to the public.
The 102 decisions t …
read moreJudicial Branch launches monthly podcast on Iowa courts
The Iowa Judicial Branch has begun a monthly podcast titled “In the Balance: An Iowa Judicial Branch Podcast,” that will explore how Iowa’s courts function.
“In each monthly episode, we will explore the in’s and out’s of our state-level court system, host interviews with judges and justices, and shine a light …
read moreIowa Supreme Court sides with first-in-time tenant in conflict between pet allergy and emotional support animal
The Iowa Supreme Court held that a tenant with a dog allergy may maintain civil claims for damages against their landlord arising from the landlord’s waiver of their no-pets policy for a neighboring tenant’s emotional support animal. In doing so, the Court emphasized the narrowness of its holding, characterizing its analy …
read moreIowa Supreme Court asked to toss suit seeking to force Iowa to regulate agricultural pollution
The Iowa Supreme Court will hear arguments in an appeal challenging a lawsuit filed by citizens and environmental groups claiming State environmental agencies failed to reduce the presence of agricultural pollutants in the Raccoon River.
Iowa CCI and Food & Water Watch filed suit in Polk County District Court in Marc …
read moreFederal court says grand jury may see records of investigation into Iowa State Patrol officer misconduct
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed a federal court order denying the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s motion to quash a grand jury subpoena for department records related to an investigation of an Iowa State Patrol officer for misconduct or use of excessive force.
The August 2019 subpoena order …
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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 …
Iowa Supreme Court allows open records suit to proceed, saying the Governor is not immune from such litigation
The Iowa Supreme Court affirmed the Polk County District Court’s denial of a motion to dismiss a suit brought by journalists claiming Gov. Kim Reynolds and other staffers within her office violated the Iowa Open Records Act. In reaching that decision, the Court held the plaintiffs’ claims against the Governor did not vi …
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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.