1. The jurisdiction of the court of appeals is coextensive with the state. The court of appeals has appellate jurisdiction only in cases in chancery, and constitutes a court for the correction of errors at law.

Terms Used In Iowa Code 602.5103

  • 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.
  • following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute mean the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • State: includes any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession subject to the legislative authority of the United States. See Iowa Code 633D.2
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
 2. The court of appeals has subject matter jurisdiction to review the following matters:

 a. Civil actions and special civil proceedings, whether at law or in equity.
 b. Criminal actions.
 c. Postconviction remedy proceedings.
 d. A judgment of a district judge in a small claims action.
 3. The jurisdiction of the court of appeals with respect to actions and parties is limited to those matters for which an appeal or review proceeding properly has been brought before the supreme court, and for which the supreme court pursuant to section 602.4102 has entered an order transferring the matter to the court of appeals.
 4. The court of appeals and judges of the court may issue writs and other process necessary for the exercise and enforcement of the court’s jurisdiction, but a writ, order, or other process issued in a matter that is not before the court pursuant to an order of transfer issued by the supreme court is void.