The Iowa Supreme Court issued five opinions from April 3-9. As of April 9, the court issued 35 opinions in 2023 — three fewer than this point a year ago. Three of five opinions are below:
- Des Moines Civil & Human Rights Comm’n v. Knueven, where the court “reversed the judgment of the district court concluding that Defendants discriminated against prospective tenants in violation of municipal law by steering prospective tenants of a protected religion or national origin away from their rental properties, holding that there was insufficient evidence against Defendants under the proper jury instruction.”
- Auditor of State v. Sand, where the court “affirmed the judgment of the district court denying the state auditor’s application to enforce a subpoena against the Iowa Communities Assurance Pool (ICAP), holding that ICAP is not a governmental subdivision over which the state auditor has statutory authority.”
- Blasdell v. Linnhaven, Inc., where the court “affirmed the judgment of the district court reversing the decision of the workers’ compensation commissioner denying the claim filed by the husband of a deceased employee for burial expenses and death benefits as the surviving spouse, holding that the district court did not err.”
From April 3-9, state supreme courts issued 144 opinions nationally. The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia issued the most with 26. State supreme courts in 19 states issued the fewest with zero. Courts where judges are elected have issued 69 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 75.
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 1,787 opinions in 2023. Courts where judges are elected have issued 976 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 811. Iowa is a Republican trifecta, meaning Republicans control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature.
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