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Iowa Appeals Court to Hear Oral Arguments at Chautauqua, Okoboji

May 23, 2022

The Iowa Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in two cases June 2, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. at Arrowwood Resort, 1405 Highway 71, Okoboji.  The oral arguments are open to the public and the court encourages people to attend.

The court will hear attorneys argue the cases of State v. Eliot Stowe, a Monona County case, and North Star Mutual Insurance Company v. Julie Schley, a Sioux County case.

Case context:

21-0880 State v. Stowe

Eliot Stowe appeals his conviction for first-degree murder for killing his grandmother.  Stowe contends the evidence shows he was actively psychotic and legally insane at the time of the killing and should have been found not guilty by reason of insanity.

21-0918 North Star Insurance Company v. Schley

Julie Hansen Schley, an intervenor in a petition for declaratory judgment, appeals the district court’s grant of summary judgment to North Star Mutual Insurance Company concluding no coverage exists for the claims Julie is making against Gary Schley in a separate lawsuit.  Julie contends Gary was insured under his parents’ North Star insurance policy as a “real estate manager,” he and Lisa Scheele were covered as “persons performing domestic duties,” and Gary was covered because he was listed as an “additional insured.” 

The Iowa Court of Appeals is an intermediate appellate court.  It reviews appeals from trial court decisions that have been transferred to the Court of Appeals by the Iowa Supreme Court.  A decision of the Iowa Court of Appeals is final unless reviewed by the Iowa Supreme Court on grant of further review.  Some opinions of the Iowa Court of Appeals are published and become precedent for subsequent cases.  The majority of appeals filed in Iowa are decided by the Court of Appeals.

Appeals cases are a multi-judge review of a single judge’s decision.  There are no jury members at these proceedings.  Typically, the Court of Appeals decides cases with randomly selected panels that change in composition every three months.  For more information about the Iowa Court of Appeals and the Iowa court system, visit the Iowa Judicial Branch website at https://www.iowacourts.gov/.

Note to news media

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 at https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ACO/CourtRulesChapter/04-30-2104.25.pdf .

For More Information:

Steve Davis
Communications Director
Iowa Judicial Branch
[email protected]

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