Iowa Supreme Court upholds insanity defense burden shift
The Iowa Supreme Court ruled 7-1 that criminal defendants must prove insanity to use it as a defense, affirming lawmakers’ authority to set criminal law. Justice Louis Lavorato dissented, warning against undermining constitutional protections. The case grows from Jimmy L. James’s Davenport sex abuse, kidnapping and assault conviction. the court noted federal decisions support the burden shift. The ruling follows a 1974 precedent and years of legislative changes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
DES Moines
Iowa Supreme Court
Davenport
Jimmy L. James
James
Linda Neuman
Legislative Branch
Judicial Branch
Louis Lavorato
High Court
Lavorato
Iowa Supreme Court: sleeping on job disqualifies benefits
The Iowa Supreme Court ruled that workers denied unemployment benefits for sleeping on the job even if fatigue from long hours was claimed. The decision involved Robert J. Hurtado of Waterloo Corrugated Box, who was fired for sleeping in a restroom on September 21, 1984, despite fatigue and medical complaints.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gazette
Des Moines
Bureau
Iowa Supreme Court
Robert J. Hurtado
Waterloo Corrugated Box
Hurtado
Job Service of Iowa
Black Hawk County District Court
George L. Stigler
Iowa Court of
Lawyer late too often, loses libel suit against papers
Iowa Supreme Court upholds dismissal of most of Sioux County prosecutor Harold Postma's libel suit against Sioux Center News and Hawarden Independent for articles calling him often late to hearings. The suit was revived for his family claims but the deposition no show led to most dismissals. The court noted Postma, former county attorney, failed to appear for a routine deposition.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
DES Moines
Iowa Supreme Court
Sioux County
Harold O. Postma
Postma
Sioux Center News
Hawarden Independent
Iowa Supreme Court blocks charging plant purchase to customers
The court ruled Interstate Power Co may not automatically bill customers for its 16.8 million purchase of 25 megawatts of a power plant. The decision limits the Iowa Commerce Commission's rulings to accounting procedures and not binding in future rate cases.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gazette
Des Moines Bureau
DES Moines — Interstate Power Co
Iowa Supreme Court
Iowa Commerce Commission
Commission
Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative
Northwest
Interstate
Consumer Advocate
Ers
Supreme Court
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