House File 591 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 591 BY ANDREWS A BILL FOR An Act relating to expedited contempt of court appeal 1 proceedings and including effective date provisions. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 2907HH (3) 91 cm/jh
H.F. 591 Section 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act shall be known and may be 1 cited as the Expedited Contempt Appeal Act. 2 Sec. 2. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. The general assembly finds 3 that individuals held in contempt of court may face immediate 4 incarceration or penalties without a timely opportunity for 5 appeal. Given that contempt of court rulings can arise from 6 minor infractions, such as accidental disruptions, an expedited 7 appeal process is necessary to ensure due process and prevent 8 potential judicial overreach. This Act establishes a mechanism 9 for prompt judicial review of contempt orders. 10 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION . 665.13 Expedited appeal process. 11 1. A person found in contempt of court and sentenced 12 to incarceration or a fine shall have the right to file an 13 expedited appeal within four hours of the ruling. 14 2. Upon receiving a notice of appeal, the appellate court 15 shall schedule a hearing within twenty-four hours of the notice 16 to review the contempt finding and any associated penalties. 17 3. The appellate court shall have the authority to stay 18 enforcement of the contempt sentence pending appeal and to 19 overturn, modify, or affirm the ruling based on the merits of 20 the case. 21 4. The supreme court shall prescribe rules and procedures to 22 ensure the efficient handling of expedited contempt appeals, 23 including electronic filing options and emergency review 24 panels. 25 Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of immediate 26 importance, takes effect upon enactment. 27 EXPLANATION 28 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 29 the explanations substance by the members of the general assembly. 30 This bill relates to contempt of court appeal proceedings. 31 The bill allows a person found in contempt of court and 32 sentenced to incarceration or a fine to file an appeal of the 33 sentence within four hours of the ruling. The bill requires 34 the appellate court to have a hearing on the sentence within 35 -1- LSB 2907HH (3) 91 cm/jh 1/ 2
H.F. 591 24 hours of receiving the notice of appeal. The bill provides 1 the appellate court the authority to stay enforcement of the 2 sentence and to overturn, modify, or affirm the appealed 3 sentence. The bill directs the supreme court to prescribe 4 rules and procedures to enforce the bill. 5 The bill, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect 6 upon enactment. 7 -2- LSB 2907HH (3) 91 cm/jh 2/ 2