Terms Used In Iowa Code 814.20

  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
814.20 Decisions on appeals or applications by defendant.
An appeal or application taken by the defendant shall not be dismissed for an informality
or defect in taking it if corrected as directed by the appellate court. The appellate court, after an examination of the entire record, may dispose of the case by affirmation, reversal or modification of the district court judgment. The appellate court may also order a new trial, or reduce the punishment, but shall not increase it.
[C51, §3097, 3098; R60, §4921, 4925; C73, §4534, 4538; C97, §5457, 5462; C24, 27, 31, 35,
39, §14006, 14010; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §793.14, 793.18; C79, 81, §814.20]
85 Acts, ch 157, §5