Welcome by Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen
A welcome and brief explanation of this 2024 Constitution Day resource page
This year's Constitution Day case is In re N.S.
N.S., who lost his firearm rights after a civil commitment when he was a juvenile in 2006, appeals from the denial of his request for relief from disabilities under Iowa Code section 724.31. N.S. argues the district court erred in (1) denying the requested relief where he provided the required evidence that showed by the preponderance of the evidence that he would not be a threat to himself or others and where the record did not show that he posed any risk, and (2) the district court erred in failing to determine that a strict scrutiny analysis required granting the request for relief where no evidence in the record showed that he is a risk to himself or others.
Case summary, legal issues, and discussion topics for students
Detailed Case Summary
Written by Iowa State Bar Association Center for Law & Civic Education Director John Wheeler
Attorney Briefs for the case
Appellant Brief
Appellee Brief
Appellant Reply Brief
Oral Arguments
What is an oral argument? An explanation of the appellate process and oral arguments before the Iowa Supreme Court.
The Iowa Constitution and Our Courts Podcasts
During the In the Balance interviews, Iowa Supreme Court Justices discuss the United States Constitution, the Iowa Constitution, how appellate court cases are chosen and decided, and the 60th anniversary of the case Gideon v. Wainwright, in which the Supreme Court of the United State's held that the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments guarantee a right of legal counsel to anyone accused of a crime. Links to listen to these episodes are below.
History of Iowa Constitutional Conventions with Leo Landis
The Iowa vs. Federal Constitutions with Iowa Supreme Court Justice Dana Oxley
Iowa Constitution Day with Iowa Supreme Court Justice Brent Appel
How the Iowa Supreme Court Selects its Caseload with Iowa Supreme Court Justice Edward Mansfield
The significance of the 60th anniversary of the case Gideon v. Wainwright with Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen
Get to know How Iowa's Trial and Appellate Courts Work
Additional Resources
The United States Constitution
The Iowa Constitution
A scan of the original Iowa Constitution
Constitution Day recognizes the ratification of the Constitution of the United States on September 17, 1787. In 1911, the State of Iowa was the first state to celebrate Constitution Day. In 2004, legislation established the Federal observance of Constitution Day. The Constitution of Iowa was adopted in convention March 3, 1857