ABA Journal Logo

ABA Journal

  1. Home
  2. Topics
  3. Iowa

Iowa

214 ABA Journal Iowa articles.

Iowa Supreme Court suspends license of lawyer accused of child sex abuse crimes in two states

An Iowa lawyer facing criminal charges for sexually abusing a child has had his law license suspended by the Iowa Supreme Court. Enoch Keoki Keli’i Waipa, who practiced law in Clarinda, Iowa, and the surrounding area, filed a response to a proposed disciplinary action with the Iowa Supreme Court, based…

Jul 15, 2026 3:27 PM CDT

Lawyer convicted of orchestrating drug deals wins back law license

The Iowa Supreme Court has reinstated the law license of a former city attorney who was convicted of dealing marijuana.

Jun 11, 2026 12:34 PM CDT

Los Angeles law firm accused of unauthorized practice in Texas, Virginia, Arizona, Iowa and Michigan

Three lawyers associated with California’s DTLA Law Group were charged with operating personal injury practices in jurisdictions where they are not licensed, according to a State Bar of California media advisory. Charges announced Thursday by the bar’s Office of Chief Trial Counsel are against two of the firm’s founding partners,…

Jun 5, 2026 11:56 AM CDT

Lawyer reprimanded for claiming he had dementia to get excused from case

An Iowa lawyer who was appointed to represent a criminal defendant was recently reprimanded for claiming that he had dementia, so that he could be excused from the case.

Jun 1, 2026 9:13 AM CDT

Law students can get a clue to close reading in fantasy card game-inspired class

Playing the fantasy card game Magic: The Gathering has many parallels to practicing law, says Mihailis Diamantis, a constitutional professor at the University of Iowa College of Law and a lifelong enthusiast of the game.

Mar 31, 2026 12:25 PM CDT

Suspended lawyer accused of citing hallucinated case in bid to reinstate law license

A suspended Iowa lawyer cited at least one hallucinated case likely generated by artificial intelligence in his bid to return to law practice, according to a motion filed by the Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board.

Sep 12, 2025 9:27 AM CDT

8th Circuit blocks ‘backup theory’ for enforcing Voting Rights Act, leaving private plaintiffs without recourse

A federal appeals court in St. Louis has blocked an alternate path for private plaintiffs in seven states to sue to enforce racial-discrimination protections in Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

May 19, 2025 11:48 AM CDT

Magistrate who used slur has ‘shown no aptitude for self-improvement,’ top state court says in removal order

The Iowa Supreme Court has ousted a judicial magistrate accused of using a racial slur to refer to a Hispanic defendant and labeling a male youth’s sexual assault claim as “absurd.”

Apr 22, 2025 9:44 AM CDT

Iowa immigration law making illegal reentry a misdemeanor blocked by 8th Circuit

Iowa can’t enforce a law making it a crime for immigrants to be in the state if they reentered the country illegally after formerly being denied entry or ordered deported, a federal appeals court has ruled.

Jan 29, 2025 9:35 AM CST

Unprofessional Conduct: Free speech doesn’t cover elected official’s coarse comments, court says

A former Iowa county attorney who was elected to the prosecutorial position made crude comments at work. Reuben Neff, who was first elected as the Wapello County Attorney in 2018 and resigned in March, did not convince the Iowa Supreme Court that he had a First Amendment right to say those things.

Oct 1, 2024 2:00 AM CDT

8th Circuit allows Iowa book ban to take effect but rules for challengers on First Amendment issue

A federal appeals court on Friday allowed an Iowa law to take effect that polices books in school libraries, saying a federal judge who blocked the law erred in his analysis.

Aug 14, 2024 3:32 PM CDT

Lawyer’s actions in discipline matter lead to worse penalty

Knowing when to fight a charge, or accept it when the evidence isn’t great and you’re offered a decent outcome, is a significant part of practicing law. Mike Mbanza, an Iowa lawyer, may have learned that the hard way.

Apr 1, 2024 1:50 AM CDT

Lawyer who wrote on ethics issues is suspended after he is accused of helping client hide assets

An Iowa lawyer has received a two-year suspension for helping a client hide money from creditors and for "furtively" inserting a provision into a custody agreement.

Mar 7, 2024 12:49 PM CST

Leaving kids home alone wasn’t endangerment, state supreme court says; ‘no parent can shield a child from all risks’

A mother didn’t commit the crime of child endangerment when she left five children ages 5 to 12 home alone while she shopped for groceries at Walmart, the Iowa Supreme Court has ruled in a unanimous opinion.

Feb 22, 2024 3:22 PM CST

Animal Legal Defense Fund fails to persuade 8th Circuit that ‘ag-gag’ laws violate First Amendment

A federal appeals court has upheld two “ag-gag” laws in Iowa in a First Amendment challenge by the Animal Legal Defense Fund and other animal welfare groups.

Jan 9, 2024 12:37 PM CST

Read more ...

Topics: Career & Practice

Lone Star State sees rise in complaints of non-lawyers practicing without a license

Complete list of topics ...

Your Voice

What my father's restaurant taught me about judging

Articles and commentary ...

Podcasts

Why some states are introducing pathway to bar that doesn't include bar exam

More podcasts ...
Copyright 2026 American Bar Association. All rights reserved.