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.
Questions: Can a video of sexual assault be authenticated by circumstantial evidence where there is no witness to the
Latest from On Brief: Iowa's Appellate Blog
Iowa Supreme Court rules that a one-day release does not require the State to prove a recent overt act before committing a sexually violent predator
The Court heard oral argument in In re Detention of Harlow on September 9 and filed its opinion on October 9. Chief Justice Christensen wrote for the court that unanimously affirmed the district court’s judgment committing Joshua Harlow as a sexually violent predator (SVP).
Question: If a person is reincarcerated for violating a lifetime special
Iowa Supreme Court affirms the removal of Pottawattamie County supervisor for intoxication at Carson town hall
On September 10, the Iowa Supreme Court heard the oral arguments in the case of State v. Belt and issued its opinion on October 2. The Court, in a unanimous opinion authored by Chief Justice Christensen upheld the district court’s judgment, which had removed Scott Belt from the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors.
Question: Can
Iowa Supreme Court to hear oral argument about the presumption of innocence October 2 in Iowa City
State v. Wiggins, Scheduled for oral argument on October 2 at 1:30 PM.
Question: Is it inherently prejudicial to have a uniformed sheriff’s deputy stand next to the witness box while the defendant testifies?
James Wiggins was found guilty of second-degree murder in connection with an incident where he shot at Tyrone Hutchins outside a
Iowa Supreme Court considers standards for assessing religious exemptions in special argument session in Spirit Lake
The Court held oral argument in Andrew Perry v. Dordt University in a special session on September 15 at 7:00 PM in Spirit Lake, Iowa.
Question: Under what circumstances may a court reviewing a religious university’s decision to deny a religious exemption under the Iowa Civil Rights Act determine whether a student’s religious beliefs are genuine?
Summary of Iowa Supreme Court Cases Argued and Submitted Sept. 9 and 10
The Iowa Supreme Court heard arguments in seven cases on September 9th and 10th. Five other cases were submitted to the Court without oral argument. The following are summaries of those cases.
State v. Patterson
Argued September 9th at 9:00 AM.
Question: Did the district court apply the correct standard when determining competency when
A statistical review of the 2025-26 Iowa Supreme Court term: “The Incredible Shrinking Judicial Opinion”
[This article by Matthew A. McGuire was originally published in the August 2026 issue of The Iowa Lawyer magazine.]
The last four Iowa Supreme Court terms—from the 2022-2023 term to the recently concluded 2025-2026 term—have seen a stylistic shift in how the Court articulates its rulings. Brevity has become the order of the day. Not only
Iowa Supreme Court Upholds Immunity in Horse-Drawn Mower Injury Case
The Iowa Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal of a personal injury claim arising from an accident involving a horse-drawn sickle mower in a unanimous decision filed on June 12, 2026. In Shafer v. Santana, the Court held that a farmer operating a horse drawn sickle mower was engaged in the “domesticated animal activity” of
July 2026 Iowa Court of Appeals Published Opinions Roundup
The Iowa Court of Appeals selects certain opinions for publication in the Northwestern Reporter. In July, the Court of Appeals selected two opinions for publication. Following are summaries of those opinions.
Thompson v. State, No. 25-0891
Opinion date: April 29, 2026
On appeal from Pottawattamie County District Court
Issue:
- Whether the Iowa Supreme Court’s
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. In a unanimous decision filed on June 19, 2026, the Iowa Supreme Court in State v. Lind held that,