Defender’s Digest: Iowa Supreme Court & Criminal Law
Iowa Supreme Court Affirms OWI Conviction Despite No Affirmative Action from Police
In State v. Clark, the Iowa Supreme Court affirmed the conviction of Hope Clark for Operating While Intoxicated (OWI), rejecting her claim that she was denied her statutory right to consult with an attorney under Iowa Code section 804.20. The case highlights a significant division within the Court over what constitutes a “reasonable opportunity” to…
Iowa Supreme Court Affirms Domestic Abuse Conviction and Firearm Prohibition
Iowa Supreme Court Affirms Domestic Abuse Conviction and Firearm Prohibition In State v. Kieffer, the Iowa Supreme Court upheld two domestic abuse assault convictions and a firearm prohibition order against Ezekiel Kieffer, rejecting several constitutional and evidentiary challenges raised on appeal. BackgroundKieffer was convicted after a jury found he assaulted and strangled his girlfriend during…
Iowa Supreme Court Upholds Conviction Despite Hearsay and Procedural Concerns in Theft Case
In State v. Jason Michael Pirie, the Iowa Supreme Court affirmed a third-degree theft conviction and two-year prison sentence, despite acknowledging that some testimony admitted at trial qualified as improper hearsay. The Court ultimately concluded the error was harmless in light of overwhelming video evidence and other corroborating testimony. Pirie was convicted after security footage…
Iowa Supreme Court Clarifies Deferred Judgment Eligibility Based on Timing of Prior Convictions
In State v. Gardner, the Iowa Supreme Court upheld a district court’s ruling that a defendant was ineligible for a deferred judgment because he had been convicted of a felony in a separate case prior to sentencing—even though that felony was committed after the offense in the current case. Ewaun Gardner was involved in a…
Iowa Supreme Court Reverses Conviction in Sexual Abuse Case Due to Improper Admission of Hearsay Testimony
In State v. Allan Sievers, the Iowa Supreme Court reversed two convictions for second-degree sexual abuse after finding that the trial court improperly admitted hearsay evidence that did not meet the requirements of Iowa’s new “outcry witness” statute. The case involved allegations from a minor, Leo (a pseudonym), who claimed years later that Sievers, a…
Iowa Supreme Court Removes Magistrate Over Inappropriate Judicial Conduct
In In re Magistrate Hanson (No. 24–2030), the Iowa Supreme Court ordered the removal of Judicial Magistrate David Hanson following findings of serious judicial misconduct stemming from two separate incidents involving inappropriate statements—one in a written order and another in open court. The disciplinary case arose after the Iowa Commission on Judicial Qualifications received two…
Iowa Supreme Court Orders Resentencing After Defendant Was Illegally Sentenced as a Repeat Drug Offender
Iowa Supreme Court Orders Resentencing After Defendant Was Illegally Sentenced as a Repeat Drug Offender In State v. Gale, the Iowa Supreme Court clarified how sentencing enhancements must be based on qualifying prior convictions—and reversed a sentence after finding that a defendant had been incorrectly classified as a repeat offender. Vanessa Gale was convicted of…
Iowa Supreme Court Reverses Conviction Over In-Person Registration Requirement
In State v. Ronald Eugene Cooley, the Iowa Supreme Court reversed a Linn County conviction based on a misapplication of Iowa’s sex offender registry statute. The case turned on whether a statutory requirement to “appear in person” could be satisfied by registering a change of address by phone during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Cooley attempted…