By Ryan Leemkuil Today, the Eighth Circuit ruled that a district court goes too far when it attempts to limit a defendant's ability to procreate. Christopher Harris, a convicted felon, fathered ten children out of wedlock with seven different women. After Harris...
ARCHIVE
Beard Update
By Ryan Leemkuil Last month, the Eighth Circuit rejected Arkansas inmate Christopher Deaton’s request to grow a full-length beard for religious reasons. As we noted then, Judge Colloton dissented, arguing that the panel should wait for the Supreme Court’s decision in...
When should an inferior court just sit tight?
By Ryan Koopmans That was the main question yesterday in Deaton v. Arkansas Department of Correction. Arkansas prisoner Christopher Deaton wants to grow a full-length beard for religious reasons, but prison policy doesn't allow it because of safety concerns. Deaton...
Judge Colloton warns of Twombly and Iqbal embellishment
By Ryan Koopmans Twombly and Iqbal aligned the case law with the Federal Rules' pleading standards, they didn't change them (nor could they). That was Judge Colloton's message last week in Horras v. American Capital Strategies, Ltd., an Iowa case about minority...
Eighth Circuit Newsletter: Intra-Circuit Splits, the Twenty-First Amendment, and Judge Jane Kelly
The Eighth Circuit Bar Association's summer newsletter is out, and it contains two articles by Nyemaster Goode attorney and On Brief contributor Ryan Koopmans. The first article discusses the Eighth Circuit's conflicting, same-day decisions in United States v....
FEATURED POSTS
Question before Iowa Supreme Court: Was a defendant free to drive off from a police encounter?
Federal appeals court to hear arguments Sept. 20 on Iowa law barring undercover access to livestock facilities
Iowa Supreme Court to hear a case in Waverly involving a search prompted by a drug-detection dog
Iowa Supreme Court to hear arguments in six cases Sept. 13-14
EDITORIAL TEAM
ABOUT
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.