The Iowa Court of Appeals is set to conduct oral arguments in two cases at Arrowwood Resort, Okoboji, on May 29, 2025. The session will begin at 1:00 p.m., and the public is encouraged to attend.
The court will deliberate on two cases: Lee v. State from Monona County and Abrahamson v. Scheevel from Emmet County.
In the case of Lee v. State, Randy Lee was found guilty in 2019 of two counts of third-degree sexual abuse. After a failed direct appeal, Lee sought postconviction relief claiming ineffective assistance by his trial counsel. The district court agreed with Lee, vacating his convictions and granting a new trial. The State is appealing this decision.
The second case, Abrahamson v. Scheevel, involves allegations against Benjamin Scheevel for accessing personal information under false pretenses while serving as an Estherville Police Officer. Plaintiffs also named Chief of Police Brent Shatto, the City of Estherville, and John Doe in their suit. Defendants moved to dismiss the claims citing they were time-barred under the Iowa Municipal Tort Claims Act; however, the district court denied this motion. This denial is now being challenged on interlocutory appeal.
The appellate briefs for these cases are available on the Iowa Judicial Branch website.
As an intermediate appellate court, the Iowa Court of Appeals reviews trial court decisions referred by the Supreme Court. Its decisions are final unless further reviewed by the Iowa Supreme Court. Some opinions become precedents for future cases.
Appeals involve multi-judge panels without juries. These panels change every three months through random selection.
For more details about the Iowa Court of Appeals or its "Appeals on Wheels" program, visit their official website.
Media representatives are invited to cover the proceedings but must adhere to specific rules regarding electronic devices during oral arguments. More information on media coverage rules can be found on both the Iowa Judicial Branch and Iowa Legislature websites.
Steve Davis
Communications Director
Iowa Judicial Branch
steve.davis@iowacourts.gov