The Iowa Supreme Court issued two opinions from March 20-26. As of March 26, the court issued 26 opinions in 2023 — five fewer than this point a year ago. The two opinions are below:
- LS Power Midcontinent, LLC v. State, where the court reversed the district court’s dismissal of a suit brought by electric transmission companies against the Iowa Utilities Board. The supreme court reversed the district court’s ruling that “qualified would-be competitors in the electric transmission market lacked standing to challenge new legislation that [blocked] them from bidding against existing Iowa operators on future projects.”
- State v. Mong, where the court affirmed the defendant’s convictions for attempted murder, willful injury causing bodily injury, and going armed with intent, while vacating the conviction and sentence for the charge of intimidation with a dangerous weapon.
From March 20-26, state supreme courts issued 125 opinions nationally. The Kentucky Supreme Court issued the most with 25. State supreme courts in 22 states issued the fewest with zero. Courts where judges are elected have issued 78 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 47.
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 1,491 opinions in 2023. Courts where judges are elected have issued 807 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 684. Iowa is a Republican trifecta, meaning Republicans control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature.
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