Iowa Supreme Court to continue 'road trip'

The Iowa Supreme Court plans to continue its road trip this fiscal year, scheduling special sessions in five communities outside of Des Moines to hear attorneys' oral arguments on various cases in the coming months.

The court's calendar for the fiscal 2013 adjudicative term issued Thursday included scheduled sessions in Iowa City on Sept. 7 at 9 a.m., Ottumwa on Sept. 19 at 7 p.m., Waterloo on Oct. 11 at 7 p.m., Sioux City on March 12 at 7 p.m. and Dubuque on April 10 at 7 p.m. The sessions to hear oral arguments, which are open to the public, were scheduled for the evening for the convenience of members of the public who wish to attend, court officials noted in a news release.

Each of Iowa's two law schools also will host oral arguments with limited seating for the public – the Sept. 7 session at the University of Iowa College of Law in Iowa City and the Drake University Law School in Des Moines at 9 a.m. on March 7. Court officials also have scheduled a special evening session in Des Moines of Feb. 19 for central Iowa residents who may not have been able to attend the court's regular morning and afternoon sessions in the past. The court will continue its regular schedule of oral arguments in Des Moines during the adjudicative term that runs through June 30 as well.

"After visiting several Iowa communities to hear oral arguments, we confirmed there is a real interest throughout the state in seeing the Supreme Court at work," Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady said in a statement. “Iowans are very interested to hear about the role of the courts and see what we do as justices of the Supreme Court."

Between May 2011, and April 2012, the seven Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments in Cedar Rapids, Mason City, Carroll, Council Bluffs and Bettendorf. Coinciding with each visit, the justices met with high school government and American history classes. The justices visited 36 schools in 21 cities in the course of their travels.

"We also plan to continue our school visits," Cady added. "My colleagues and I enjoy visiting with young people about our responsibilities on the Supreme Court, the Iowa court system, and to answer questions students may have about the judicial branch of government. The students always have excellent questions, and by meeting with them we hope to help explain the role of the courts within our constitutional democracy."