Iowa Code
Iowa Code § 665.7 (2026)
Notice to show cause
✓ current as of July 2026
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Before punishing for contempt, unless the offender is already in the presence of the court, the offender must be served personally with an order to show cause against the punishment, and a reasonable time given the offender therefor; or the offender may be brought before the court forthwith, or on a given day, by warrant, if necessary. In either case the offender may, at the offender’s option, make a written explanation of the offender’s conduct under oath, which must be filed and preserved. [C51, §1603; R60, §2693; C73, §3496; C97, §4465; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §12546; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §665.7] 2010 Acts, ch 1159, §15
\nNotes of Decisions
Cited in 30
cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1946–2026 · leading case: Lutz v. Darbyshire, 297 N.W.2d 349 (Iowa 1980).
Lutz v. Darbyshire, 297 N.W.2d 349 (Iowa 1980). “Before this court, plaintiff argues defendant acted illegally or without jurisdiction in holding her in contempt of court for failure to comply with the terms of a dissolution decree (1) when that decree was being appealed to this court, (2) when notice to show cause was not…”
Knox v. Mun. Court of City of Des Moines, 185 N.W.2d 705 (Iowa 1971). “Section 665.7 provides: "Before punishing for contempt, unless the offender is already in the presence of the court, he must be served personally with a rule to show cause against the punishment, and a reasonable time given him therefor; or he may be brought before the court…”
Gibb v. Hansen, 286 N.W.2d 180 (Iowa 1979). “Whether the court acted illegally in punishing Gibb for contempt without advising him of and providing him pursuant to section 665.7 with an opportunity to make written explanation of his conduct under oath; and 3.”
French v. Iowa Dist. Court for Jones Cnty., 546 N.W.2d 911 (Iowa 1996). “See Iowa Code § 665.7 . 2 At no time prior to the contempt hearing did the city put French on notice of its desire to seek reimbursement for abatement costs through the contempt proceeding.”
Sharkey v. Iowa Dist. Court for Dubuque Cnty., 461 N.W.2d 320 (Iowa 1990). “Iowa Code § 665.7 (1989). Seizing on the language “[b]efore punishing for contempt,” the defendant argues that the equivalent of a rule to show cause is necessary in order to revoke a prior suspended sentence for a past willful contempt.”
Newby v. Dist. Court of Woodbury Cnty., 147 N.W.2d 886 (Iowa 1967). “On May 12 the three plaintiffs and Gamel were served personally with a rule or order to show cause signed by defendant, pursuant to Code section 665.7, why they should not be punished for contempt for their contemptuous and insolent behavior toward defendant court and their…”
Watson v. Charlton, 50 N.W.2d 605 (Iowa 1951). “Section 665.7, Code of 1950, has been in effect under different numbers in different Codes for many years.”
State of Iowa v. David Hal Calvin, 839 N.W.2d 181 (Iowa 2013). “See Iowa Code §§ 665.7 , .10; Mott, 731 N.W.2d at 393-94 .”
Zimmermann v. Iowa Dist. Court for Benton Cnty., 480 N.W.2d 70 (Iowa 1992). “See Iowa Code § 665.7 (1989). Following a hearing on the matter, district associate judge Michael J.”
Dakota, Minnesota & E. R.R. D/B/A Canadian Pac. v. Iowa Dist. Court for Louisa Cnty., 898 N.W.2d 127 (Iowa 2017). “§ 665.7. An application to show cause is a means of seeking a court’s redress; it thus initiates a “proceeding.”
Opperman v. Sullivan, 330 N.W.2d 796 (Iowa 1983). “See § 665.7; Lutz v. Darbyshire, 297 N.W.2d 349, 353 (Iowa 1980).”
Ballanger v. Iowa Dist. Court for Appanoose Cnty., 491 N.W.2d 179 (Iowa Ct. App. 1992). “Section 665.7 provides for the requirement of notice to show cause in contempt matters.”
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