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Case No. 23-0669

For summaries from opinions prior to August, 2018, view PDF versions here

Joe Anthony Lopez
v.
State of Iowa

Appellant

Joe Anthony Lopez

Appellee

State of Iowa

Attorney for the Appellant

Janice B. Binder

Attorney for the Appellee

Linda J. Hines, Assistant Attorney General

Court of Appeals

Court of Appeals Opinion

Opinion Number:
23-0669
Date Published:
Jun 05, 2024
Summary

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Robert B. Hanson, Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered by Tabor, P.J., and Badding and Buller, JJ.  Opinion by Tabor, P.J.  (12 pages)

            Joe Lopez appeals the denial of his application for postconviction relief (PCR.)  He contends new scientific evidence on shaken baby syndrome and abuse head trauma undermines his conviction.  And he argues his criminal trial counsel was ineffective by (1) not challenging prior bad acts testimony and (2) not marshalling scientific data to rebut the State’s expert witnesses.  OPINION HOLDS: Lopez did not raise the second ineffective-assistance claim before the PCR court, so we do not address it.  We find his newly discovered evidence claim and his bad-acts ineffectiveness challenge lack merit.  So we affirm denial of PCR. 

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