The court held that article I, section 17 of the Iowa Constitution categorically prohibits mandatory minimum imprisonment schemes for offenses committed by juveniles because they prevent sentencing courts from considering youth and its attendant circumstances as mitigating factors.
Supreme Court of Iowa, 2014
Published opinions from 2014. The case name opens the case page.
2014 opinions
IowaIn the Interest of J.S. & N.S., Minor Children, A.S., Mother, Appellant, State of Iowa, Appellee
April 25, 2014846 N.W.2d 36
The court held that a parent’s methamphetamine addiction, without additional evidence, does not establish that the parent is imminently likely to cause the child a nonaccidental physical injury under Iowa Code section 232.2(6)(b).
IowaIn the Interest of A.M., Minor Child, A.M., Father, Appellant, J.O., Mother, Appellant, State of Iowa, Appellee
February 21, 20142014 Iowa Sup. LEXIS 17
The court vacated the court of appeals’ decision and affirmed the juvenile court’s termination of both parents’ rights to A.M. It concluded that clear and convincing evidence showed A.M.