Category Archives: Criminal Justice

One of the primary issues in which Fawkes-Lee and Ryan are involved.

Flag Desecration and The Iowa Code

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Marty Ryan

This is my favorite unconstitutional statute in the Iowa Code.  The Iowa Supreme Court has never ruled on Iowa Code Section 718A, but the Federal District Court of the Southern District of Iowa has.  In Phelps v. Powers, 63 F.Supp.3d … Continue reading →

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Symbolic Law

Posted on July 8, 2020 by Marty Ryan

On Monday, June 29, Governor Kim Reynold (R-Iowa) signed into law Senate File 526, a bill “creating a blue alert program within the department of public safety for the apprehension of a person suspected of killing or seriously injuring a … Continue reading →

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Minority Impact Statements: History and Continuing Efforts

Posted on July 2, 2020 by Marty Ryan

The Iowa quarter, printed in the latter part of 2004, is based upon a Grant Wood painting depicting a group of students and their teacher planting a tree outside of a county school.  The statement on the coin says, “Foundation … Continue reading →

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What IS the Age of Maturity?

Posted on May 22, 2019 by Marty Ryan

A recent question in CityView, a Des Moines alternative newspaper, asked readers: “Should the minimum age to purchase tobacco products be raised to 21 in Iowa?”  All sorts of answers ensued.  One reader said tobacco should be outlawed and marijuana … Continue reading →

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Flaws in the Laws – Part III: 2nd Degree Kidnapping

Posted on April 17, 2019 by Marty Ryan

“He got off on a technicality.” This is a quip that drives me crazy whenever someone walks away from a courtroom in which the person otherwise should have been found guilty. Just what is a technicality? A technicality can be … Continue reading →

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How much does it cost to buy a constitutional amendment?

Posted on March 6, 2019 by Marty Ryan

How much do you think it would cost to amend the Iowa Constitution? To fund an amendment to the U.S. Constitution? Or, the constitutions of all 50 states? What staggering amount would you have to cough up to amend all … Continue reading →

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