Iowa Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments at Johnston High School

(Submitted by the Iowa Courts)

On Constitution Day, Monday, September 17, the Iowa Supreme Court will hear oral arguments at the Johnston High School auditorium, 6500 NW 100th St. The oral arguments are open to the public and will begin at 7 p.m. A public reception with the supreme court justices will follow the oral arguments in the auditorium lobby. For those unable to attend the event, it will be livestreamed on the district’s YouTube channel. The link to watch is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3fZVOq65Qo

The court will hear attorneys argue the case of State of Iowa v. Timothy Alvin Newton, from Ringgold County.

Case summary: The Iowa Supreme Court considers this case on further review of an Iowa Court of Appeals decision upholding the constitutionality of a provision in Iowa’s operating-while-intoxicated statute.  The question raised is whether Iowa Code section 321.2(1)(c) is unconstitutionally vague in violation of defendant’s due process rights when it states that a person commits the offense of operating while intoxicated “if any amount of a controlled substance is present in the person, as measured in the person’s blood or urine.”

More information about the case, including the Iowa Court of Appeals opinion and attorney briefs is available on the Iowa Judicial Branch website at https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/supreme-court/supreme-court-oral-argument-schedule/case/16-1525 .

Note to Editors: News media are invited to attend the oral arguments. Court rules apply regarding still camera, video camera, audio recording devices, and other electronic devices used during the oral arguments. Information on expanded media coverage is available on the Iowa Judicial Branch website at https://www.iowacourts.gov/newsroom/expanded-news-media-coverage/ .

The Iowa Court Rules regarding cameras and other electronic devices in courtrooms are on the Iowa Legislature website https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ACO/CR/LINC/04-30-2014.chapter.25.pdf  (PDF).

For More Information:

Steve Davis, Court Communications Director, 515-348-4967 or steve.davis@iowacourts.gov.