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Oral Argument recap: A shorthanded Iowa Supreme Court seems skeptical in Water Works case
If you were a lawyer for the Des Moines Water Works, you might have wondered what happened to your case when two of seven justices were not on the bench for Wednesday’s oral argument.
The fact that Justices David Wiggins and Daryl Hecht were absent signal …
read moreIowa Supreme Court Water Works Argument: Will the Iowa Supreme Court reverse precedent through a certified question?
By Ryan Koopmans
When the Des Moines Water Works attorney steps up to argue tomorrow, he’ll likely be swimming up stream–if for no other reason than the fact that the justices are not hearing a case but instead are being asked to decide a “certified question” from a federal court. …
read moreIowa Supreme Court 2016-17 Preview: Will the Iowa Supreme Court reconsider its speedy-indictment rule?
Students and faculty at the University of Iowa will have the opportunity to witness oral arguments in an interesting appeal when the court convenes at the law school tomorrow.
The court in Iowa v. Deantay Darelle Williams is being asked by state …
read moreOral Argument Recap: Iowa justices worry about safety on lakes and roads alike
One key question from at least two justices of the Iowa Supreme Court is whether a precedent from a drunken boating case would end at the water’s edge or spill onto public roads as well.
That was the first question put to attorney Grant Gangestad, who is …
read moreIowa Supreme Court 2016-17 Preview: Can Iowa courts create damage claims for constitutional violations?
A long-running legal battle over Gov. Terry Branstad’s effort to remove a top state regulatory official could take on a historic constitutional dimension at the Iowa Supreme Court.
The court on Sept. 14 is scheduled to hear oral arguments in the case of …
read moreIt’s still Cady’s Court: Our statistical review of the Iowa Supreme Court’s 2015-16 term
By Ryan Koopmans
Here’s a look at the Iowa Supreme Court’s 2015-16 term, by the numbers. If there’s a theme this year, it’s what we put in the title: It’s still Cady’s Court. In addition to being the Chief–which, by itself, is enough to give t …
read moreIowa Supreme Court 2016-17 Preview: Will Iowa Court chart a new course in boating case?
When the Iowa Supreme Court hears oral arguments in a drunken boating case next month, it will feel like déjà vu.
That’s because the court first heard oral arguments in the case a year ago, and it sat on the court’s back burner for several months. I …
read moreJudge Bright calls federal sentences of Native Americans unfair in Iowa case
A sentence of life in prison for a resident of the Meskwaki Settlement in Iowa illustrates how Native Americans are treated more harshly under federal law than state or tribal law, a federal appeals-court judge said in a dissenting opinion last week.
“I …
read moreIowa Supreme Court 2016-17 Preview: Must the State protect public from released sex offenders?
When Iowa releases a convicted sex offender confined under the State’s civil commitment statutes, does the State have a duty to protect the public from harm?
The answer is yes, according to the family of a woman allegedly sexually assaulted by a convict …
read moreLooking ahead, looking back, and On Brief news
By Ryan Koopmans
The 2016-2017 Iowa Supreme Court term begins in just a little over a month, so over the next few weeks we’re going to preview some of the cases that will be argued in September. The first of the series–read more
FEATURED POSTS
Iowa Supreme Court expected to release opinions in seven cases Friday
Opinions in seven cases are expected to be released by the Iowa Supreme Court Friday, June 18. Go to On Brief’s Cases in the Pipeline page and click on the “Cases Argued” tab to see which cases that were argued this term remain to be decided this term, which ends June 30.
Following are On Brief’s previously publi …
U.S. Supreme Court sends Dubuque police search case back to the Eighth Circuit
The U.S. Supreme Court remanded a case involving a warrantless search by Dubuque police to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals for further consideration in light of a May 17 Supreme Court decision that narrowed the scope of a precedent on which the appeals court relied.
The Eighth Circuit held in
Five years ago, a deeply divided Iowa Supreme Court issued a decision on the question of whether a drunken driving suspect was entitled under State statute or the Iowa Constitution to speak privately to an attorney by phone before deciding whether to consent to a blood-alcohol test. A plurality opinion for three of the s …Iowa Supreme Court expected to release opinions in three cases Friday
Opinions in three cases are expected to be released by the Iowa Supreme Court Friday, June 11. With those three cases decided, 17 cases argued in the 2020-21 term remain to be decided. Go to On Brief’s Cases in the Pipeline page and click on the “Cases Argued” tab to see which cases that were argued this term rema …
Iowa Supreme Court adopts a position on suspects’ right to counsel that earlier fell short of a majority
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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.