Spencer, Iowa — The Iowa Supreme Court has announced that they will hear oral arguments in northwest Iowa in a couple of weeks.
Yesterday (Wednesday, September 28, 2016) the Iowa Supreme Court reported they’d be hearing oral arguments in Spencer on Thursday, October 13th. The proceeding will take place in the Old Spencer Middle School auditorium, located at 104 E 4th Street. The court says these oral arguments are open to the public and will begin at 7 p.m.
During the Spencer session, the Iowa Supreme Court will hear attorneys argue in the case of State of Iowa v. Daimonay Darice Richardson, from Linn County District Court.
The Iowa Code mandates a restitution award of at least $150,000 to the victim’s heirs in a felony death case. In this case, Richardson, as a juvenile, pled guilty to murder in the 2nd degree and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $150,000. Richardson claims on appeal that the restitution amount violates the excessive fines clause of article I, section 17, of the Iowa Constitution and alternatively that the district court abused its discretion in imposing a fine of such amount. Richardson also claims that imposing mandatory fines on juveniles constitutes cruel and unusual punishment under the Iowa Constitution.
A public reception with the supreme court justices will follow the oral arguments in the school gymnasium.
Once again, these oral arguments are open to the public and will begin at 7 p.m., Thursday, October 23rd at the former Spencer Middle School Auditorium at 104 E. 4th Street in Spencer.
