by Claire DeRoin–
The Iowa Supreme Court traveled from Des Moines to Sioux City to argue two cases in front of a small audience in Eppley Auditorium Tuesday night, March 12.
These oral arguments were not typical court cases like from films, however. The Court, a panel of seven judges, took the stage in their robes to hear the cases. The scene was void of a jury, witnesses, or other typical courtroom staples. That is because the Iowa Supreme Court is an appellate court. The court’s purpose is to review the cases at hand, which had already gone through other courts but had been appealed after a ruling was issued. This is how State v. Kooima and the Matter of the Estate of Lois L. Hord came to be heard by the Iowa Supreme Court.
In each of the cases. two lawyers presented their facts, and then offered rebuttals. The Justices asked questions, and constantly brought up hypothetical situations that related to the case in some way. At times, the Court interrupted each other with questions directed towards the lawyers, and some furiously scribbled down notes.
In the Matter of the Estate of Lois L. Hord, which was argued first, Justices quickly made their presence known as the lawyers began presenting facts. One Justice boldly asked if the case was even an issue worthy of being discussed. The case dealt with a trust issue with a family’s farmland and who should have inherited it.
“You’re talking about law that has to apply to every situation, not just this situation. You have to apply it uniformly. That’s what law does,” Justice Wiggins said at one point.
The second case, State v. Kooima, followed whether or not Leon Kooima should have been arrested and charged with an OWI since he was pulled over not due to poor driving, but to an anonymous tip to 911. The question of the matter was whether an anonymous tip was reasonable cause.
“Justice means so much to everyone in our society,” Justice Zager announced to the audience after the arguments were over. He further explained why it was important for the public to attend such events.
Justice Daryl L. Hecht, appointed to the court in 2006, is a Morningside graduate. He graduated in 1974. He will serve the Court until 2016, when his term expires. KMSC’s Katie Copple interviewed Justice Hecht as well as Chief Justice Mark Cady.
KMSC’s Katie Copple Interviews Iowa Supreme Court Justices
The court did not make decisions regarding the cases. They will begin to discuss and deliberate the facts today and will release a ruling before their term is up in June.
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