Tag: Speedy Trial

Court Grants GRL Motion to Dismiss Drug Charge

On November 28, 2022, the district court in Pocahontas County granted our application to dismiss a possession charge based on a violation of the one-year speedy trial provisions in Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 2.33. We were able to demonstrate that the state did not bring our client to trial within one year of his plea of not guilty and good cause did not exist to continue the prosecution under the circumstances. GRL took over the defense of this case from another firm and stood ready to defend the charge based on a constructive possession defense.  We believed there was […]

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Iowa Courthouse

The Impact of Coronavirus on Iowa’s Criminal Justice System

The impact of the current Coronavirus pandemic on Iowa’s criminal justice system is real and severe. Pursuant to the April 2, 2020 order issued by the Iowa Judicial Branch, ALL state jury trials are currently suspended.  Suspended.  As in not happening until no sooner than July 13. This may not be a big deal to some but to those currently incarcerated awaiting trial, it is a significant interference with their constitutional and statutory rights.  We won’t wade into the debate of court powers, emergency proclamations in this post, but it is important to understand that thousands of Iowans are currently […]

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