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State of Iowa
v.
Richard Wayne Leedom
Appellee
State of Iowa
Appellant
Richard Wayne Leedom
Attorney for the Appellee
Darrel Mullins, Susan R. Krisko, and Thomas J. Ogden, Assistant Attorneys General
Attorney for the Appellant
Christine E. Branstad and Nathan Olson
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Poweshiek County, Shawn R. Showers, Judge. AFFIRMED. Heard by Vaitheswaran, P.J., and Greer and Schumacher, JJ. Opinion by Schumacher, J. (12 pages)
Richard Leedom appeals the district court’s decision finding there was no exculpatory evidence in a sexual assault victim’s counseling records after conducting an in camera review of those records. OPINION HOLDS: We find the district court did not err in interpreting the Iowa Supreme Court’s remand order or the relevant statutes concerning the privacy of mental-health records. The court’s interpretation did not violate Leedom’s due process rights. The court properly determined the records were confidential. The court did not abuse its discretion in balancing the victim’s privacy interest against Leedom’s need for the information. We affirm the decision of the district court.
