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 the intermediate…
Voting begins officially today when Iowans can begin casting absentee ballots at county auditor offices. That will be the first time many voters will see the complete General Election ballot – including the names of 66 Iowa appeals court and trial court judges standing for…
By Ryan Koopmans When an administrative agency makes a ruling that depends, at least in part, upon factual determinations, it’s difficult to get that ruling overturned on appeal. This morning, in a two-page opinion, Iowa Court of Appeals Judge Christopher McDonald tells us how difficult:…
By Ryan Koopmans Oskaloosa, Saturday, December 14. The time? 1:45 a.m. Closing time. Officer Blaine Shutts is on patrol. The location? V.F.W. Post #2237. Shutts sees two cars in a nearby lot with lights on. He circles the block. Now there’s only one set of headlights; but…
By Ryan Koopmans On Thursday, June 18, the Iowa State Bar Association appellate practice committee will put on a morning CLE as part of the ISBA’s annual meeting. For anyone who practices before Iowa’s appellate courts–or for anyone who wants an insight into how Iowa’s case…
A Guthrie County woman made statements to her son that he interpreted as serious threats of violence against a Department of Health and Human Services child protective worker and a judge six days ahead of a hearing regarding the Department’s removal of her minor children from her care. His concerns were reported to law enforcement, and she was subsequently convicted on one count of threat of terrorism under Iowa Code Chapter 708A.
The Iowa Supreme Court entered opinions in ten cases in January 2026. On Brief has analyzed three opinions in separate posts. The remaining opinions from January are summarized below.
The Iowa Supreme Court entered opinions in eight cases in December 2025.
The penalty for violating Iowa’s law that bars the sale of alcohol to a person under the age of 21 is $500. The penalty for a second violation is $1,500 and a 30-day license suspension if it occurs within two years of the first. That is the law even if the second violation occurs within minutes of the first, a divided Iowa Supreme Court held in a Feb. 20 decision.
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.
