Legislative act barring pro se briefs does not cross constitutional line, Iowa Supreme Court rules
Legislation enacted by the Iowa General Assembly that prohibits defendants who are represented by legal counsel from filing appellate briefs on their own behalf does not violate the Iowa Constitution’s separation of legislative and judicial powers, the Iowa Supreme Court has narrowly held.
In a 4-3 read more
Decisions expected from Iowa Supreme Court in two cases Friday
The Iowa Supreme Court is expected to release opinions in two cases Friday, February 5, 2021. Below are On Brief’s previously published summaries of these cases. Go to On Brief’s Cases in the Pipeline page to read briefs filed with the Court in these appeals.
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Eighth Circuit wades into dispute over when public officials may “block” their constituents on Twitter
This week, the Eighth Circuit held that a constituent who was “blocked” on Twitter by the account of a Missouri state legislator could not maintain a claim against that public official for violation of his First Amendment rights. In Campbell v. Repre …
read moreMan deserves day in court to avoid losing his home over $220 delinquent tax bill, Iowa Supreme Court rules
A Jan. 22 ruling by the Iowa Supreme Court means a Waterloo man may not lose his home for failure to pay a $220 property tax bill.
Cornell Hoosman’s home was sold at tax sale for failure to pay $220 in property taxes to Black Hawk County, and he was served with a removal order after a district judge entered a default j …
read moreWith Wagner, the Iowa Supreme Court continues building an “Iowa Courts” jurisprudence
Few law school courses inspire more fear and frustration from students than Federal Courts. A standard elective at most law schools, the course’s prosaic name belies a devilishly complex body of law regarding who can sue whom in federal court, and for what. One Federal Courts professor asked rhetorically in a 2001 read more
Iowa Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in eight appeals Wednesday and Thursday
The Iowa Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in eight appeals Wednesday and Thursday. Six other cases will be submitted to the Court this week without oral argument.
The arguments will be in the Supreme Court courtroom with the option of participating remotely. Livestreamed videos of the arguments can be seen on the C …
read moreIowa Supreme Court selects Chief Justice Susan Christensen for a second term
Chief Justice Susan Christensen has been selected by the members of the Iowa Supreme Court for a second term, the Judicial Branch announced Jan. 8.
At 10 a.m. Wednesday, Christensen will deliver the Condition of the Judiciary address to a joint session of the Iowa General Assembly in the Iowa House Chamber. Iowa Public T …
read moreIowa Supreme Court: Tort Claims Act governs excessive-force claims under the state Constitution
A plaintiff with a claim under the Iowa Constitution for damages against the State or its employee must follow the procedures prescribed by the Iowa Tort Claims Act, including the Act’s exclusion of punitive damages, the Iowa Supreme Court said in a ruling handed down Dec. 31.
The decision in read more
Justice Matthew McDermott traces his route to the Iowa Supreme Court in podcast interview
In a new “In the Balance” podcast, Justice Matthew McDermott, the newest member of the Iowa Supreme Court, talks about growing up in Carroll, Iowa, attending law school in Calif …
read moreIowa Supreme Court to hear oral arguments in 10 appeals this week — all by remote video conference
The Iowa Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in 10 cases Tuesday and Wednesday. Four other appeals will be submitted to the Court without oral argument.
Due to the recent rise in new Covid-19 cases, the justices will hear all December arguments by video conference remotely. Go to the Court’s read more
FEATURED POSTS
Question before Iowa Supreme Court: Is it enough to say a cow does not belong on a highway?
A driver whose vehicle collides with a cow wandering on a highway might logically assume the owner of the cow is, by definition, responsible for the driver’s injuries and damage to the vehicle. By that logic, the injured driver shouldn’t have to provide evidence of precisely how the owner failed to prevent the cow’s mea …
Iowa Court of Appeals denies new trial for Cristhian Bahena Rivera
A convicted murderer’s bid for a new trial was denied by the Iowa Court of Appeal in a decision handed down Oct. 11.
Cristhian Bahena Rivera was convicted by a Poweshiek County jury in 2021 for the murder of Mollie Tibbetts of Brooklyn, …
Iowa Supreme Court to hear arguments in eight cases Oct. 10 and 11
The Iowa Supreme Court will hear arguments in eight cases Oct. 10 and 11. Five additional cases will be submitted to the Court without oral arguments. Following are brief summaries of the October cases. [Go to On Brief’s “Cases in the Pipeline” page to read the briefs f …
Question before Iowa Supreme Court: Was a defendant free to drive off from a police encounter?
The Iowa Supreme Court will hear an oral argument at the University of Iowa in a case that poses a question with an often-elusive answer under the Fourth Amendment: When does a reasonable person feel free to walk or drive away from a police encounter?
The oral argument in this case is set for 1:30 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Un …
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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.