The opinion cited a number of cases dating back more than a century that the justices believed demonstrated early courts and legislatures had envisioned a 'self-executing' Iowa Constitution that would allow those wronged by the government to seek relief with or without legislative authorization. Terry Branstad cost Iowa taxpayers? $2.8 million and counting More: How much did the discrimination lawsuit against former Gov. It ruled that the Iowa Constitution could directly authorize claims for monetary damages 'when the legislature has not provided an adequate remedy.' In their 2017 decision, the justices considered claims Godfrey brought directly under the equal protection and due process guarantees of the state constitution, which a lower court had dismissed. Justice Edward Mansfield wrote for the now-unanimous court that Friday's decision will 'restore the law as it existed in this state before 2017.' But on Friday, the court, which has seen more than 50% turnover since 2017, held that decision and all its successor cases were decided wrongly. The court in that case ruled that such lawsuits were permissible, even without legislative authorization. In that case, the court considered what to do with violations of Iowa constitutional rights for which no statute, such as the Iowa Civil Rights Act or Iowa Tort Claims Act, explicitly authorized lawsuits against the state. Six years after ruling Iowans could bring suit against the state over violations of their state constitutional rights, the Iowa Supreme Court reversed itself Friday, holding that plaintiffs can seek damages for constitutional violations only where specifically permitted by the Legislature.įriday's decision, which involved an Iowa City-area garbage truck driver arrested for refusing to cooperate in a police inspection of his truck, overturns the 2017 decision known as Godfrey II.

Violation by Godfrey J. Anderiesz