Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Miller v. Alabama that mandatory sentences of life without the possibility of parole are unconstitutional for juvenile offenders. That was a challenge for Iowa, which had until then required that anyone convicted of...
Protecting Your Rights Throughout Eastern Iowa Since 1981
Year: 2013
How noteworthy is the SAC Capital Advisors securities fraud case?
Since the U.S. Department of Justice filed charges of “rampant insider trading” against SAC Capital Advisors and three of its subsidiary hedge funds last week, the financial media has been flooded with stories about the case. Announcing securities and wire fraud...
8th Circuit: yard sign may ‘invite’ police to search your home
In a somewhat surprising ruling, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, which includes Iowa, recently held that an otherwise unlawful police search was legal because the defendant had a “for sale” sign on his lawn. A Kansas City man has now been...
Iowa Supreme Court issues holding on cause for DUI stops
The Iowa Supreme Court recently issued a holding on whether or not an officer can make a suspected drunk driving stop based solely on an anonymous phone call. According to the Court, an anonymous tip is not enough to justify a stop. The case was brought to the court...
Racial disparity in pot arrests in Iowa doubles national average
A black person in Iowa is about eight times more likely to be arrested for a marijuana possession charge than a white person, according to a recent study released by the American Civil Liberties Union. This is more than double the national average which showed a...
Iowa felony sentencing patterns might be changing
Advocates for criminal reform in Iowa and across the country might raise the issue of economics: the growing number of convicted individuals serving life sentences has increased steadily in the past 30 years. The current count might be six times as high as it was in...
Lawmakers consider revising drunk driving laws
Iowa City readers know that college graduation parties are an annual occurrence in May, given the proximity of The University of Iowa. Other graduates of technical schools and other post-secondary training programs may also have course completions to celebrate. For...
Criminal charges can have far-reaching consequences
Iowa City readers may be aware that undocumented or unauthorized immigrants charged with certain criminal offenses might also find themselves in a deportation proceeding -- regardless of whether those criminal allegations result in a conviction or prove unfounded. Yet...
Certain drug offenders face surprise consequences
Iowa City readers may be aware that undocumented or unauthorized immigrants charged with certain criminal offenses might also find themselves in a deportation proceeding -- regardless of whether those criminal allegations result in a conviction or prove unfounded. Yet...
Iowa robbery suspect arrested on his birthday
Iowa City residents may celebrate their birthdays in a variety of ways. Some prefer an intimate dinner with a loved one. Others may opt for a big birthday bash, surrounded by friends and loud festivities. A few thrill-seeking souls may even decide to conquer their...