June 28 was the last day of the 2023-2024 Iowa Supreme Court adjudicative term.

Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen has signed two orders establishing and appointing members to the 2024 Iowa Child Support Guidelines Review Committee and appointing a new member to the Iowa Judicial Branch Task Force on Expedited Appeals in Termination of Parental Rights and CINA cases.

The Iowa Supreme Court has approved $870,244 in grants to nonprofit programs that provide legal assistance to low-income Iowans with civil legal problems. 

Eighteen Iowans applied with the State Judicial Nominating Commission to fill the vacancy on the Iowa Court of Appeals that will occur upon the retirement of Chief Judge Thomas Bower.

Chief Justice Christensen has signed an order amending Chapter 6 of the Iowa Rules of Appellate Procedure. 

Between May 17 and 22, the Iowa Judicial Branch released multiple public announcements involving the development of a new task force, updates on the applicants for the Court of Appeals vacancy, the appointment of a new chief judge in the Fourth Judicial District, and more.

Two student attorneys from the Drake Children’s Rights Clinic, Payton Kitterman, 3L, and Taylor Thomas, 3L, argued a case before the Iowa Supreme Court on April 10.

The ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility has issued ABA Formal Ethics Opinion 511 - Confidentiality Obligations of Lawyers Posting to Listservs.

The Iowa State Public Defender’s Office is offering free criminal and juvenile law training opportunities for new attorneys and recent law school graduates in May and extends the invitation to any interested attorneys to attend. 

On Monday, April 29, the Iowa Supreme Court issued two orders regarding the Iowa Court Rules for chapters on interpreters and translators and rules relating to involuntary hospitalizations and commitments.