1. a. A prosecuting witness who is a child or who has a mental disability in a case involving
a violation of chapter 709 or 710A, or section 726.2, 726.3, 726.6, or 728.12, is entitled to have
the witness’s interests represented by a guardian ad litem at all stages of the proceedings
arising from such violation. The guardian ad litem shall be a practicing attorney and shall
be designated by the court after due consideration is given to the desires and needs of the
prosecuting witness and the compatibility of the prosecuting witness and the prosecuting
witness’s interests with the prospective guardian ad litem. If a guardian ad litem is currently
appointed, or has previously been appointed, for the prosecuting witness in a proceeding
under section 598.12, a proceeding under chapter 232, a proceeding in which the juvenile
court has waived jurisdiction under section 232.45, or any other proceeding substantially
related to a matter arising under this section, the court shall give appointment priority to
the same guardian ad litem under this section. When a guardian ad litem is appointed for
a prosecuting witness with a mental disability, the court shall give appointment priority to
an attorney who has background and training specific to persons with mental disabilities.
\n
Tue Dec 09 21:51:55 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 915 (75, 1)
§915.37, VICTIM RIGHTS 14\n\nThe guardian ad litem shall receive notice of and may attend all depositions, hearings, and
trial proceedings to support the prosecuting witness and advocate for the protection of the
prosecuting witness but shall not be allowed to separately introduce evidence or to directly
examine or cross-examine witnesses. However, the guardian ad litem shall file reports to the
court as required by the court.
b. For purposes of this subsection:
(1) “Child” means a person under eighteen years of age.
(2) “Mental disability” means one or more intellectual, developmental, or psychiatric
disabilities that result in significant impairment to a person’s ability to comprehend,
communicate, or learn.
2. References in this section to a guardian ad litem shall be interpreted to include
references to a court appointed special advocate as defined in section 232.2.
98 Acts, ch 1090, §30, 84; 2009 Acts, ch 19, §3; 2021 Acts, ch 61, §2; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §1345;
2024 Acts, ch 1175, §4; 2025 Acts, ch 30, §103
Subsection 1, paragraph b amended
Subsection 1, paragraph c stricken
\n
Notes of Decisions
State of Iowa v. Andrew James Lopez, 872 N.W.2d 159 (Iowa 2015).
· cites it 8× “Iowa Code § 915.37 (1) (emphasis added). Under this provision, a child-victim old enough to testify in the criminal case may have the assistance of the same GAL appointed to represent the child’s interests in the CINA proceeding.”
State v. Knudsen, 746 N.W.2d 608 (Iowa Ct. App. 2008).
· cites it 6× “In this case, because it was required to provide a guardian ad litem for the child victim under section 915.37, the State asserts it was a victim entitled to restitution by the defendant.”
State of Iowa v. Jake Skahill (Iowa 2021).
· cites it 34× “Iowa Code § 915.37 (1). Thus, GALs may attend “depositions, hearings, and trial proceedings” in the service of two goals: “[1] support the child and [2] advocate for the protection of the child.”
State of Iowa v. Rickie Blaine Withers, Sr. (Iowa Ct. App. 2025).
· cites it 24× “” See Iowa Code § 915.37 (“The guardian ad litem shall receive notice of and may attend all depositions, hearings, and trial proceedings to support the prosecuting witness and advocate for the protection of the prosecuting witness but shall not be allowed to separately introduce…”
State of Iowa v. Jake Skahill (Iowa Ct. App. 2020).
· cites it 12× “” Iowa Code § 915.37 (1). The guardian ad litem is to “receive notice of and may attend all depositions, hearings, and trial proceedings to support the child and advocate for the protection of the child.”
State of Iowa v. Reuben Daniel Schooley (Iowa 2024).
· cites it 8× “2d 159, 177 (Iowa 2015) (emphasis omitted) (quoting Iowa Code § 915.37 (1)). The GAL shall “support the child and advocate for the protection of the child,” but she may not “separately introduce evidence or .”
Sophapmysay v. City of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, 218 F. Supp. 2d 1027 (N.D. Iowa 2002).
· cites it 12× “The court finds this argument unpersuasive because the court concludes that defendant Kittridge did not act in violation of Iowa Code § 915.37 . That section provides as follows: A prosecuting witness who is a child, as defined in section 702.”
Amended February 12, 2016 State of Iowa v. Andrew James Lopez (Iowa 2015).
· cites it 6× “Iowa Code § 915.37 (1) (emphasis added). Under this provision, a child- victim old enough to testify in the criminal case may have the assistance of the same GAL appointed to represent the child’s interests in the CINA proceeding.”
K.C. v. T.L. (Iowa Ct. App. 2022).
· cites it 2× “questions “whether the district court had authority to appoint a guardian ad litem” under Iowa Code section 915.37. But he concedes that “error is not necessarily preserved” because he never objected to the appointment.”
— Iowa Code § 915.37(1) — 4 cases
State of Iowa v. Andrew James Lopez, 872 N.W.2d 159 (Iowa 2015).
“Iowa Code § 915.37 (1) (emphasis added). Under this provision, a child-victim old enough to testify in the criminal case may have the assistance of the same GAL appointed to represent the child’s interests in the CINA proceeding.”
State of Iowa v. Jake Skahill (Iowa Ct. App. 2020).
“” Iowa Code § 915.37 (1). The guardian ad litem is to “receive notice of and may attend all depositions, hearings, and trial proceedings to support the child and advocate for the protection of the child.”
State of Iowa v. Jake Skahill (Iowa 2021).
“Iowa Code § 915.37 (1). Thus, GALs may attend “depositions, hearings, and trial proceedings” in the service of two goals: “[1] support the child and [2] advocate for the protection of the child.”
Amended February 12, 2016 State of Iowa v. Andrew James Lopez (Iowa 2015).
“Iowa Code § 915.37 (1) (emphasis added). Under this provision, a child- victim old enough to testify in the criminal case may have the assistance of the same GAL appointed to represent the child’s interests in the CINA proceeding.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the
Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and
treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.