Iowa Supreme Court · No. 23-1729
Dr. Allen Diercks and Diane Holst v. Scott County, Iowa, and Kerri Tompkins, Scott County Auditor
Decided February 14, 2025 · appeal from Scott County · Government
What the court decided
AI summary A group of citizens sued a county to gain access to the names and resumes of people applying for open positions on the board of supervisors. The lower court originally ruled that these records were confidential and could be kept private. The Iowa Supreme Court reversed that decision and sent the case back to the lower court to be reconsidered.1
Result: Reversed and Case Remanded
The court’s own summary
Plaintiffs appeal the district court’s grant of summary judgment dismissing their petition for equitable declaratory, mandamus and injunctive relief requesting access to public records pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 22 (2023). Plaintiffs contend the district court erred in finding Iowa Code section 22.7(18) protects the confidentiality of the identities and resumes of applicants seeking appointment to fill a vacancy on the county board of supervisors.
Holding: Private citizens appeal the district court’s grant of summary judgment to a county and a county official on their claims for violations of the Iowa Open Records Act. Reversed and Case Remanded.
Judges
- Written by Chief Justice Susan Christensen
- Trial judge: Henry W. Latham, Scott County
Iowa Code it cites
§22.10§22.2§22.7§22.8§39.18§602.6201§69.14A§69.8
Each links to the bills that change that chapter.