UPDATES & ANALYSIS
Federal courts mostly unaffected by government shutdown – at least for now
Federal courts in Iowa will operate mostly as usual at least through next week, despite the partial government shutdown, according to statements released this week by federal court administrators.
The federal judiciary is on course to continue operating t …
U.S. Senate confirms Iowa native for seat on the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
President Donald Trump’s appointment of Sioux City native Jonathan Kobes to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit was confirmed by the U.S. Senate Dec. 11. The vote was split 50-50 with Vice President Mike Pence supplying the tie-breaking vote.
The Iowa Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in eight cases Dec. 11 and 12
The Iowa Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in eight cases Dec. 11 and 12. Four other cases will be submitted to the Court without oral argument.
Among the cases set for argument are two appeals brought by state and local government employee …
U.S. Supreme Court denies Iowan’s appeal challenging Fourth Amendment exception
The U.S. Supreme Court will not hear an appeal from an Iowa man who argued that his drunk-driving conviction was the product of an unconstitutional search and seizure.
The Court on Monday issued a list of cases considered at the justices’ Nov. 30 conferen …
Iowa Supreme Court: Truncated phone hearing on parental rights violated jailed mother’s constitutional rights
A parent who is incarcerated and unable to attend a termination of parental rights hearing in person has a due process right to participate by telephone in the entire hearing, not just to give testimony, the Iowa Supreme Court read more
FEATURED POSTS
A dozen cases to be submitted to Iowa Supreme Court this week without oral argument
Twelve cases will be submitted to the Iowa Supreme Court this week without oral argument. The Supreme Court and Court of Appeals are not hearing oral arguments through July 13 under a supervisory order issued by Chief Justice Susan Christensen on April 2 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The appellate courts may, at …
Iowa Supreme Court: Plaintiffs who dropped hog-confinement suit must pay defendants’ costs
Two Wapello County residents who brought nuisance suits against operators of hog confinements and later voluntarily dropped them must pay the defendants’ costs, including legal fees, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled March 27.
Michael Merrill and Karen Jo Frescoln were among two of 70 original plaintiffs in Honom …
Truckers must pursue workers’ compensation claims individually, not as a class, Iowa Supreme Court rules
Drivers who work for a national trucking company based in Des Moines do not have common claims for purposes of a class-action lawsuit on workers’ compensation benefits, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled March 20.
In weighing class action status in
The Iowa Supreme Court has a little over three months left in its current term, but the last oral arguments have already been heard, as a result of schedule changes forced by the coronavirus outbreak. In recent days, Chief Justice Susan Christensen has issued a string of orders (accessible on the Judicial Branch
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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.