Iowa Court of Appeals rules that an officer’s search of a glove compartment and center console of the Defendant’s vehicle, looking for evidence of identity, proof of insurance, and vehicle registration after the Defendant refused the officer’s requests, was not a valid search under the automobile exception to the warrant requirement. The officer did not have probable cause to believe evidence of a crime was in the vehicle, and there was no exigency requiring a search at that time.
Iowa Supreme Court holds that asking a passenger to exit the vehicle in order to effectuate a search or arrest of the driver or other person is not necessarily an unconstitutional violation of 4th amendment if reasonable under all of the circumstances.
Iowa Court of Appeals confirms that a single brief incident of crossing a fog or lane line, without more, is not sufficient reasonable suspicion of crime to detain a driver.
Iowa Supreme Court holds that a non corroboration instruction is improper. A court should not inform a jury that the complaining witness’ testimony need not be corroborated.
Client charged with 7 counts, including attempted murder, going armed with intent, carrying weapons, willful injury causing serious injury, assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of firearm while subject to a protective order, and tampering with a witness, pleads only to possession of a firearm while subject to a protective order and tampering with a witness, for an agreed-upon deferred judgment, civil penalties, and 2 years of probation.
Iowa Court of Appeals discusses proper calculation for time served, particularly when a Defendant has a warrant on a separate case, or is being held in a different county.
Iowa Court of Appeals rules there was insufficient evidence for a no contact protective order, for the evidence did not prove an assault
Iowa Supreme Court reverses conviction as a result of the trial court improperly allowing prior bad acts evidence.
Although the Iowa Supreme Court has held that probable cause gives officers the right to search an automobile and its contents, including the passengers’ effects and containers, the automobile exception does not apply to the persons of passengers without particularized cause pertaining to that particular passenger.
The Iowa Supreme Court has held that the 45-day speedy indictment rule is violated when the State fails to file a Trial Information within 45 days of a citation in lieu of arrest.
Iowa Supreme Court issued an interesting ruling regarding what constitutes perjury and obstruction of justice. The standards are higher than one might think.
U.S. Supreme Court issues interesting reversal of conviction as a result of a violation of the Defendant’s confrontation clause rights.
