Iowa 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
Iowa Supreme Court 2016-17 Preview: Can Dyersville rezone heaven?
The fate of plans for developing the fabled “Field of Dreams” movie location in Dubuque County may be determined by the Iowa Supreme Court.
Dyersville city officials and a developer envision a little bit of economic-development heaven at the Dubuque C …
read moreDoing time for a ‘serious offense against the planet’
You can do serious time in federal prison for selling black rhinoceros horns, even if the horns were originally purchased before such sales were made illegal.
That is the conclusion …
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Christopher McDonald talks about his approach to being an appellate judge in podcast interview
In a new “In the Balance” podcast interview, Iowa Supreme Court Justice Christopher McDonald talks about his career as a lawyer in private practice and as a trial and appell …
Iowa Supreme Court 2020-21 statistical review: Christensen Court thinks outside voting blocs
After two previous terms marked by historic turnover due to retirements, deaths, and new appointments, the Iowa Supreme Court closed the books on the 2020-21 term last month with all seven justices serving the entire term.
Thus it’s possible to observe some trends among new members of the Court as well as the veteran jus …
Iowa Supreme Court rejects Planned Parenthood’s constitutional challenge to Iowa law preventing abortion providers from accessing grant funds for sexual education programs
In 2019, the Iowa General Assembly passed a law adding funding conditions that barred abortion providers from participating in two federally funded educational grant programs. These programs focus on educating Iowa’s youth on sexual education, including pregnancy prevention. Planned Parenthood of the Heartland (PPH) has h …
Two Iowa Supreme Court appeals challenge State jurisdiction on Tama Indian Settlement
The Iowa Supreme Court will hear appeals in the coming term on the question of whether the State of Iowa or the federal government has jurisdiction over two criminal cases involving Native American members of the Tama Indian Settlement in Tama County.
The cases are State v. Bear (20-0401) and State v. Cungti …
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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.