Iowa Supreme Court · No. 25-0575
State of Iowa v. Eric Martin Schadl
Decided June 26, 2026 · appeal from Dubuque County · Criminal
What the court decided
AI summary The defendant challenged a conviction for possessing a firearm, arguing that the law banning him from owning weapons due to a past misdemeanor domestic abuse conviction violated his constitutional rights. The court reversed the lower court's decision and ordered the case to be sent back for dismissal. This means the defendant's conviction cannot stand under the current interpretation of the state and federal constitutions.1
Result: Reversed and Case Remanded for Dismissal
The court’s own summary
In 2024, Eric Martin Schadl was charged with unlawful dominion and control of a firearm under Iowa Code § 724.26(2)(a) based on a firearm restriction imposed as part of a misdemeanor domestic abuse conviction from 2010. After the district court denied his motion to dismiss, Schadl entered a conditional guilty plea. In this appeal, Schadl argues that his conviction premised on the indefinite firearm ban violates the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Amendment 1A of the Iowa Constitution both facially and as applied to him.
Holding: The defendant challenges his conviction for being a convicted domestic abuser in possession of a firearm as violating his right to keep and bear arms under both the Iowa and Federal Constitutions. Reversed and Case Remanded for Dismissal.
Judges
- Written by Justice Matthew McDermott
Iowa Code it cites
§1.3§31.5§625A.19§7.105§706A.4§724.26§724.31§903.1§914.4
Each links to the bills that change that chapter.