The Iowa Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in nine cases Nov. 18 and 19. Eight more cases will be submitted to the Court without oral argument. Following are brief summaries of the cases. Go to On Brief’s Cases in the Pipeline page to read…
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Challenge to judicial nominating process to be argued before Iowa Court of Appeals Nov. 6
The Iowa Court of Appeals will hear arguments Nov 6 at 1:30 p.m. in an appeal of the Polk County District Court’s dismissal of a suit challenging the Legislature’s April 2019 amendment changing the nominating process for Iowa appellate court judges. Cedar Rapids attorney Bob Rush…
Nine cases to be argued before Iowa Supreme Court Oct. 21 and 22
The Iowa Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in nine cases Oct. 21 and 22, and four cases will be submitted to the Court without oral argument. Following are brief summaries of the cases set for argument. Go to On Brief’s Cases in the Pipeline…
Legal status of Grant Wood paintings at stake in case to be argued before Iowa Supreme Court Oct. 11 in Iowa City
The Iowa Supreme Court, sitting at the University of Iowa College of Law Oct. 11, will hear arguments in an appeal that could determine the fate of seven Grant Wood paintings that have been displayed in Coe College’s library for 62 years. The argument is…
Iowa Supreme Court to hear arguments in three criminal cases on Aug. 8
The Iowa Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in three criminal appeals on Aug. 8. Following are brief summaries of the three cases. For more information, go to On Brief’s Cases in the Pipeline page to read the briefs and other documents related to these…
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Iowa Supreme Court Limits Human Trafficking Liability Under 2024 Statute, Requiring an Actual Victim
The Iowa Supreme Court affirmed dismissal of a human trafficking charge and clarified that, under the 2024 statute, a defendant cannot commit human trafficking by attempting to buy sex from a victim who does not exist.
Iowa Supreme Court affirms child endangerment convictions and extends emotional harm theory to siblings
In a 5–2 decision filed on June 12, 2026, the Iowa Supreme Court in State v. Gibbs upheld a mother’s three child endangerment convictions under Iowa Code section 726.6(1)(a). Chief Justice Christensen wrote the majority opinion, joined by Justices McDonald, Oxley, McDermott, and May. Justice Mansfield filed a partial dissent, joined by Justice Waterman, concurring as to two convictions but dissenting as to the third.
Iowa Supreme Court upholds harassment conviction and clarifies that a defendant need not initiate contact to commit harassment
In a unanimous decision filed on May 22, 2026, the Iowa Supreme Court in State v. Hall held that a defendant need not be the person who initiated an encounter to commit harassment.
Search of visitor’s backpack not in physical possession falls within premises warrant, Iowa Supreme Court holds
In a divided 5–2 decision issued on March 27, 2026, the Iowa Supreme Court held that the search of a visitor’s backpack found on the premises during the execution of a search warrant did not violate the visitor’s rights under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution or article I, section 8 of the Iowa Constitution.
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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.