Christopher Hidlebaugh accepted a financial challenge in a plea deal with the State: purchase a home to avoid going to prison on a charge of failing to register as a sex offender. The deal fell apart, however, when Hidlebaugh was unable to qualify for financing to purchase a home, and he was sentenced to 15…

A Guthrie County woman made statements to her son that he interpreted as serious threats of violence against a Department of Health and Human Services child protective worker and a judge six days ahead of a hearing regarding the Department’s removal of her minor children from her care. His concerns were reported to law enforcement,…

The Iowa Supreme Court entered opinions in ten cases in January 2026. At the links immediately below, you can read On Brief’s analysis of the following opinions:

• Betz v. Mathiesen et al., No. 23-1794, concerning when a party is on notice of a potential defamation claim sufficient to trigger the statute of limitations;
• State

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The Iowa Supreme Court entered opinions in eight cases in December 2025. At the links immediately below, you can read On Brief’s analysis of the following opinions:

• City of Davenport v. Office of Author of the State of Iowa, No. 24-1160, concerning whether the State Auditor may use in-house counsel to represent him in

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The penalty for violating Iowa’s law that bars the sale of alcohol to a person under the age of 21 is $500. The penalty for a second violation is $1,500 and a 30-day license suspension if it occurs within two years of the first. That is the law even if the second violation occurs within…

The Iowa Supreme Court entered opinions in eleven cases in November 2025. At the following link, you can read On Brief’s analysis of In re Davenport Hotel Building Collapse, No. 24-0727, concerning whether statutory qualified immunity protections apply to the City of Davenport and city employees in the context of common law negligence claims…

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird has informed the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit that the State of Iowa will be seeking review by the U.S. Supreme Court of the Eight Circuit’s October 2025 ruling affirming the district court’s preliminary injunction barring enforcement of Iowa’s statute that makes it a state crime for…