Tommy Marion Copeland v. State of Iowa and Iowa Air National Guard

Decided March 10, 2023 · appeal from Polk County · Government

What the court decided

AI summary A veteran challenged a decision that denied him protections under Iowa's Veterans Preference statute. The dispute centered on whether his role as a base security officer qualified him as a confidential employee. The Supreme Court vacated the previous decision and sent the case back to the lower court for further proceedings.¹

Result: DECISION OF COURT OF APPEALS VACATED; DISTRICT COURT JUDGMENT REVERSED AND REMANDED

The court’s own summary

The supreme court granted a veteran’s application for further review of the court of appeals’ opinion affirming the district court’s annulment of his petition for writ of certiorari. He argues the court of appeals erred in finding that as a base security officer he was a confidential employee of the Iowa Air National Guard pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 35C, Iowa’s Veterans Preference statute.

Holding: An honorably-discharged veteran appeals the district court’s determination that he was not entitled to protection under the Iowa Veterans Preference Statute. DECISION OF COURT OF APPEALS VACATED; DISTRICT COURT JUDGMENT REVERSED AND REMANDED.

Read the opinion (PDF) · Case page on iowacourts.gov

Judges

Written by Justice David May
Trial judge: Paul Scott, Polk County

Iowa Code it cites

§29.1 §35C.6 §35C.8 §365.19 §70.8 §8A.401

Each links to the bills that change that chapter.