Iowa Supreme Court Justice Susan Christensen, who was selected by her colleagues on the Court to become Chief Justice, will be the first chief justice to serve just a two-year term under a new statute enacted by the Iowa General Assembly in 2019. Prior to…
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Transformation of Iowa Supreme Court continues with Dana Oxley’s appointment
With the appointment of Cedar Rapids attorney Dana Oxley, the Supreme Court is one step closer to a historic transformation. On Jan 28, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the appointment of Oxley to replace the late Chief Justice Mark Cady. Oxley, 52, has practiced law at…
District Associate Judge Ahlers of Fort Dodge appointed to Iowa Court of Appeals
Gov. Kim Reynolds appointed Paul Ahlers of Fort Dodge to the Iowa Court of Appeals, replacing Judge Amanda Potterfield, who will retire in December. Ahlers is a District Associate judge in Judicial Election District 2B. He previously practiced law in Spencer, Fort Dodge and Webster…
New chief judge elected, and other changes on the Iowa Court of Appeals
The Iowa Court of Appeals is changing with retirements and the arrival of new members. Judge Thomas Bower of Cedar Falls has been elected chief judge of the appeals court, the Judicial Branch announced Oct. 10. Judge Bower, appointed to the court in 2012, replaces…
Two judges appointed to Iowa Court of Appeals by Governor Reynolds
Gov. Kim Reynolds appointed Marshalltown attorney Sharon Soorholtz Greer and Polk County District Judge David May to the Iowa Court of Appeals May 29. They replace former Chief Judge David Danilson, who retired in January, and Judge Christopher McDonald, who was appointed to the Iowa…
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Iowa Supreme Court rules that 2025 Bitcoin ATM refund law does not apply to earlier scams.
In an opinion filed Oct 30, 2026, the Iowa Supreme Court reversed a district court’s order in In the matter of $11,500 Seized from Bitcoin Depot Operating, LLC, which denied a Bitcoin ATM operator’s request to recover $11,500 that had been seized by the police.
Iowa Supreme Court rules that courts may decide whether a religious belief is sincerely held under the Iowa Civil Rights Act.
In its unanimous October 23, 2026, opinion in Perry v. Dordt University, the Iowa Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal of a former nursing student’s religious discrimination claim under the Iowa Civil Rights Act (ICRA).
Iowa Supreme Court limits delayed appeals in child welfare cases to termination of parental rights in recent opinion.
Submitted to the Court on September 10 for further review from the Iowa Court of Appeals, the Court filed its unanimous opinion on October 16, affirming the dismissal of a mother’s untimely appeal in In re E.S.
Iowa Supreme Court affirms the admission of video in sexual abuse case over defendant’s claim that it was a “deepfake”
The Court heard oral argument in State v. Amyda on September 9 and issued its opinion on October 9. Justice Mansfield wrote for the Court, which unanimously affirmed Max Amyda’s conviction for third degree sexual abuse.
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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.