Iowa Courts
Iowa Courts are charged with the responsibility of resolving disputes and interpreting questions of Federal, State, and County Laws. The judicial branch works in conjunction with the executive and legislative branches to administrate justice within the state. Iowa Courts ensure that individuals' rights are respected and justice is served where it is needed. The Iowa court structure comprises two levels, which are:
- The Trial Courts (District Court)
- Appellate Court (Supreme Court and Court of Appeal)
In Iowa, all cases begin in the District Court. The District Court is where most civil, criminal, and juvenile cases are heard or tried. District Courts in Iowa also hear cases of misdemeanor and small claims. Iowa District Courts have different court procedures for civil, criminal, and juvenile cases brought before it. In Iowa, there are three types of civil procedures, which include family law, tort law, and contract law. Typically, the procedures for civil cases are identical except for family law and matters that involve small claims. In Iowa, a civil procedure begins when one party files a petition in the District Court Clerk's office. The petition contains information about the parties involved, the legal claims, and the remedy sought by the petitioner.
Iowa laws specify that a copy of the petition is sent to the other party. The petitioned is allowed to respond to the petition in some cases, especially in most domestic relations cases. After the initial petition, the parties may file pre-trial motions or proceed straight to trial. If the former is chosen, the parties may ask the court to dismiss the lawsuit on mutual agreement, but if the latter is preferred, a party may submit questions they want the other party to answer before trial. If the party does not agree during pre-trial, the court organizes a pre-trial conference where the topics involved in the case are outlined, and the trial date is set.
Except for family law and probate cases, civil trials may be held before a jury or a judge. The court process involves the assertion of claims and the presentation of evidence to support or refute the claims. Parties to a case present evidence by calling witnesses and asking questions. After the court hears the matter, the judge or jury makes a judgment based on the available evidence. Criminal cases are very different from civil cases. In a criminal case, the state government usually files a suit alleging that a person has violated the criminal law. In Iowa, criminal cases are divided into misdemeanors and felonies. For criminal cases, the person alleged to have broken the law must appear before a judge within 24 hours of arrest.
The judge informs the person of the gravity of their offense and whether bail or release is an option. After that, a preliminary hearing is scheduled to determine whether there is enough evidence to continue the case. However, the defendant may decide to decline the preliminary hearing. When this happens, the prosecutor will file trial information containing the charges against the defendant. Upon reading the trial information, the State Attorney selects seven judges to review the case. The Judges determine whether the case has enough merits to continue or not. If yes, the defendant is brought before the court, and the charges are explained.
The defendant may plead guilty or not guilty. If the defendant pleads guilty, the court fixes a trial within 90 days from the information filing day. The individual may bargain with the State to avoid trials. If this works, the trial is likely to be canceled. During the trial, the trial information and the defendant's plea are read before the jury. After that, the parties may question a witness and present evidence. Each party must abide by the Iowa Rules of Evidence in the court. Once the parties are done with their presentation, the court allows them to give closing remarks. This is optional, and a party may choose to waive the privilege.
Unlike civil cases, the jury must make a unanimous verdict. The defendant is either guilty or not guilty. In Iowa, the jury is not involved in determining the defendant's punishment. A Judge is given the report and information to make the sentence. Juvenile cases involve a series of court hearings that vary based on the type of case. For instance, in delinquency proceedings, the complaint is screened by a juvenile court officer and the child's parents. Depending on the outcome, the case may proceed to informal adjustment or a formal delinquency petition.
Iowa District Courts are made of several judicial officials like judicial magistrates, associate juvenile judges, associate probate judges, district associate judges, and district court judges. Each of these court officials hears specific kinds of cases. A party that is not satisfied with a District Court's judgment can appeal the judgment in a higher court. Iowa Appellate Courts review a District Court record to determine whether the court made a judicial mistake. The court may uphold, reverse, or remand the appeal brought before it. An Appellate Court judgment is called an opinion.
The Iowa Supreme Court has seven justices, while the Iowa Court of Appeals has nine Judges. The Supreme Court Justices serve eight-year terms each, and the Iowa Court of Appeal Judges serve six-year terms each. The State government appoints all Appellate Court Judges from a list of candidates nominated by the Judicial Commission.
In addition to state courts, Iowa plays host to federal courts, which hear appeals from the state supreme court and adjudicate federal cases and matters pertaining to the federal judiciary. The administrative office of each court is tasked with maintaining Iowa court records which provide an official account of each judicial proceeding.
What is the Iowa Supreme Court?
The Iowa Supreme Court is the highest Appellate and the court of last resort in the State. The Supreme Court’s decision is final, but when the case involves interpreting federal law, the individual may appeal to the US Supreme Court. The Iowa Supreme Court receives at least 2,000 appeals every year. Most of these appeals are criminal appeals.
Every appeal made in Iowa is first submitted to the Supreme Court. The court decides the merit of the appeal and whether to directly handle it or transfer it to the Court of Appeals. The Supreme Court usually handles cases that involve the interpretation of State Statutes or cases that may affect public funding. Iowa Supreme Court hearings are conducted before the chief justice and seven Justices. The justices review appeals and hear oral arguments, where necessary, to reach a decision.
As the constitutional head of the court system constitutional head, the Supreme Court is responsible for disciplining attorneys and issuing licenses to legal practitioners in the State. The court also promulgates court rules and procedures for use in the State. All appeals from the state supreme court may be directed to the appellate federal court in the jurisdiction.
Iowa Court of Appeals
Iowa Court of Appeal is the second Appellate Court in the State. The Court of Appeal reviews cases in which the legal principles are well-settled. These cases must have been transferred to the Court of Appeal by the Supreme Court. The decision of the Iowa Court Appeal is final except when there is an intervention from the Supreme Court. The Iowa Court of Appeal does not preside over trials, and proceedings do not involve witnesses, court reporters, new evidence, or juries. The court usually decides by reviewing the written record of the trial court.
Iowa District Courts
The Iowa District Court has original jurisdiction over all civil, criminal, and juvenile trials. The court hears over one million cases every year, with simple misdemeanors and small claims as the two most common cases brought before it. Iowa District Court hears civil cases involving children and families. It also hears general civil litigations, including contract disputes, tort claims, and foreclosures. The District Court hears probate cases, which account for two percent of all the cases in the State. The Iowa District Court is divided into eight districts for effective and smooth administration. Some districts that are considered to be too large are divided into sub-districts.
Iowa Juvenile Courts
The Iowa Juvenile Court has special jurisdiction over certain court cases that involve children in the State of Iowa. The Court hears and decides cases pertaining to neglect, abandon or abuse of children. These types of cases are classified as Child in Need of Assistance (CINA) cases. CINA cases may sometimes result in parental rights termination. The Iowa Juvenile Court also has jurisdiction over delinquency cases.
What are Appeals and Court Limits in Iowa?
A party that is not satisfied with a Trial Court decision may appeal the decision in a higher appellate court. An appeal is a formal request to a higher court to review the decision of a lower court. This request may be granted or denied based on the merit of the appeal. Iowa Appellate Courts are divided into Supreme Courts and Court of Appeals. The Supreme Court looks at all appeals before transferring some to the Court of Appeals. Appellate Courts do not conduct trials or hear new evidence.
In Iowa, any party in a dispute can appeal the decision of the trial court by filing a notice of appeal within 30 days that a judgment was made in the District Court. Failure to do so makes an appeal impossible, except when a notice for late submission of the appeal is presented. An appeal is also discredited when the appellant fails to provide the transcript of the lower court proceedings or any other vital information the court requested. The Appellate Court may ask the appellant to file an additional appeal where necessary.
The appeal is submitted to the Court Clerk of the District Court, where the judgment was made. The Clerk informs the parties about the steps required for submitting their arguments to the court, which includes:
- Request for a transcript from the lower court proceedings
- Filing of briefs
- Filing of appendix
Generally, cases that involve the existing application of legal principles are heard by the Court of Appeals. Appeals may involve oral arguments depending on the decision of the court. The Judges or juries of the court review the trial information and arguments brought before them. After that, a decision known as opinion is made.
How Do I Find My Case Number in Iowa?
Every case is given a case number for easy documentation of records. A case number is a unique reference number used to identify where and when a case was filed and to whom the case was assigned. To find a case number, requestors may visit the Court Clerk of the County Court where the case was filed or heard. The Clerk will explain the steps involved in retrieving the case number. Requestors may also submit their request to the Judicial Branch Communication Director.
Does Iowa Hold Remote Trials?
Yes, Due to Covid-19, the State has delayed trials until February 2021. However, a new order proceeding provides that Judges, Lawyers, and Litigants may accept or agree to have testimonies by videoconferencing and phone calls. This rule does not apply to jury criminal trial cases and selected cases heard in federal appellate courts.
