The Iowa Supreme Court issued four opinions from March 27-April 2. As of April 2, the court issued 30 opinions in 2023 — seven fewer than this point a year ago. Three of four opinions are below:
- State v. Burns, where the court affirmed the appellant’s conviction of first-degree murder.
- Feeback v. Swift Pork Co., where the court reversed the court of appeals’ reinstatement of the plaintiff’s age discrimination claim in a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination, workplace harassment, and age discrimination.
- Dornath v. Employment Appeal Bd., where the court affirmed the denial of unemployment benefits to the appellant. He claimed he should receive unemployment benefits because he missed work to attend a required weeklong training program.
From March 27-April 2, state supreme courts issued 131 opinions nationally. The North Dakota Supreme Court issued the most with 17. State supreme courts in 18 states issued the fewest with zero. Courts where judges are elected have issued 82 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 49.
The Iowa Supreme Court is the state’s court of last resort and has seven judgeships. The current chief of the court is Susan Christensen. The court issued 110 opinions in 2022 and 112 in 2021. Nationally, state supreme courts issued 7,423 opinions in 2022 and 8,320 in 2021. The courts have issued 1,640 opinions in 2023. Courts where judges are elected have issued 904 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 736. Iowa is a Republican trifecta, meaning Republicans control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature.
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