Iowa Court of Appeals reverses drunk driving OWI conviction and remands for a new trial, ruling that Iowa Code section 321J.6 was not followed properly. In order to invoke implied consent and request a breath specimen, there must not only be reasonable grounds to believe the person is operating under the influence, but one of six other predicates must apply. In this instance, both the State and the Defendant agreed that five of the six predicates were not applicable, but debated whether the Defendant was under arrest for OWI, another possible predicate. In fact, he was under arrest for interference, having been so informed. The Court of Appeals ruled that the arrest predicate required not just any arrest, but “arrest for violation for section 321J.2”, and under section 804.14, a proper manner of arrest requires that the officer inform the Defendant for what he is being arrested, and since the officer did not inform him that he was under arrest for OWI/321J.2 prior to invoking implied consent, the requisite condition precedent did not exist. Hence, the breath test was not required, and the jury should not be informed of the request or the refusal.
Iowa Court of Appeals rules that “firing at or into a building” charge does not apply to a patio or appurtenance, for a patio is not a building.
Successful appeal regarding an expungement of an old case for my client. Initially, the magistrate denied the motion to expunge, holding that an exclusion statute applied to local ordinances. Upon further appeal, the district court ruled in my client’s favor, holding that the state exclusion statute did not apply to my client’s conviction.
Iowa Supreme Court holds that in a murder case, if the Defendant raises the argument that the decedent committed suicide, past medical records that support that defense should be admitted into evidence, as well as allowing expert testimony and lay testimony regarding the decedent’s suicidal ideation and attempts.
OWI case dismissed! Review of the video revealed that there was an insufficient constitutional basis to stop my client’s vehicle. The State agreed, an unopposed suppression motion was granted, the case has been dismissed, and my client will not be losing his driver’s license.
Iowa Supreme Court holds that the right of confrontation includes the right to an in person live cross-examination of an accuser or witness, as opposed to video conference testimony. However, there may be exceptions, and the Court has not yet ruled upon whether COVID provides an exception to the rule.
Iowa Supreme Court rules that the Iowa Code section 321J.11 right to independent testing is not violated when a Defendant asks for a re-test on the Datamaster and is given a re-test on that machine. Although the Defendant has a right to an independent test of blood or urine, as long as the officer gives the Defendant the test which he requests, there is no violation unless the Defendant specifically requests a different kind of test.
Iowa Department of Transportation rescinds license revocation as a result of the violation of my client’s 804.20 rights to a phone call to an attorney or family member.
Iowa Supreme Court rules that the insanity defense must be included in the marshalling instructions for each and every offense, both major and lesser included offenses, and including the insanity defense marshalling instruction for the lesser included offenses but not the main felony is error that requires a new trial.
Iowa Court of Appeals holds that police entry into enclosed porch area without consent/permission violates the 4th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Article I section 8 of the Iowa Constitution.
Iowa Supreme Court rules that eluding while in possession of marijuana and the separate charge of possession of marijuana do not merge; hence, a defendant can be convicted of and punished for both separately.
Iowa Court of Appeals reverses drug possession and possession with intent conviction, finding that the evidence required too much speculation and too many inferences to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the Defendant knew there were drugs present and had the right and authority to maintain control over them.