The Iowa Supreme Court issued one opinion from March 13-19. As of March 19, the court issued 24 opinions in 2023 — six fewer than this point a year ago. The opinion is below:
- Estate of Butterfield v. Chautauqua Guest Home, Inc., where the court “reversed in part the judgment of the court of appeals affirming the district court’s dismissal of the medical malpractice action brought by the Estate of Roberta Butterfield against Chautauqua Guest Home, Inc., a nursing home, holding that the Estate was not required to serve a certificate of merit affidavit on Chautauqua in this case.”
From March 13-19, state supreme courts issued 142 opinions nationally. The Hawaii Supreme Court issued the most with 25. State supreme courts in 18 states issued the fewest with zero. Courts where judges are elected have issued 68 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 74.
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 1,366 opinions in 2023. Courts where judges are elected have issued 729 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 637. Iowa is a Republican trifecta, meaning Republicans control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature.
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