State of Iowa v. Murphy Lee Rutherford

Summary

The court held that establishing good cause to appeal one issue from a guilty plea gives the appellate court jurisdiction over the entire appeal, although other rules may limit the court's authority to decide particular claims. Because Rutherford was adequately informed that he had to file a motion in arrest of judgment, his unpreserved challenge to the factual basis for his theft plea could be pursued only through an ineffective-assistance claim in postconviction proceedings, which the court lacked authority to decide on direct appeal. The court affirmed the district court judgment and left standing the court of appeals' decision on the sentencing issue.