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Common questions

When did the Iowa Law Review change its name from the Iowa Law Bulletin?

The Iowa Law Review changed its name from the Iowa Law Bulletin in 1925. The publication originally operated as the Iowa Law Bulletin from 1891 to 1900 before disappearing for fifteen years. It was reinstated in 1915 and adopted its current name ten years later to signal a broader focus on Iowa legal issues.

What year did the Iowa Law Review publish its first symposium?

The Iowa Law Review published its first symposium in 1933. This event marked the journal as the first law review to publish a symposium, a format that later became a staple of legal academia. The symposium was titled Administrative Law Based upon Legal Writings 1931-1933 and focused on administrative law.

When did the Iowa Supreme Court cite the Iowa Law Review in Varnum v. Brien?

The Iowa Supreme Court cited a student note from the Iowa Law Review in April 2009. This citation occurred in the decision of Varnum v. Brien, which struck down the state's ban on gay marriage. The citation demonstrated the journal's ability to influence landmark state-level legal decisions.

When did the United States Supreme Court cite the Iowa Law Review in Citizens United v. FEC?

The United States Supreme Court cited the Iowa Law Review in its January 2010 decision of Citizens United v. FEC. The court referenced Randall P. Bezanson's article titled Institutional Speech in this landmark ruling. Justices Scalia and Stevens referenced the article in separate concurring opinions to highlight the journal's influence on constitutional interpretation.

When did the Supreme Court cite the Iowa Law Review in Padilla v. Kentucky?

Iowa Law Review

The Iowa Law Review began as a faculty-only publication called the Iowa Law Bulletin, which ran from 1891 to 1900 before disappearing for fifteen years. When the Bulletin was reinstated in 1915, it marked a pivotal shift in legal scholarship by blending faculty oversight with student editing, a model that would eventually evolve into the modern law review format. The journal changed its name to the Iowa Law Review in 1925 to signal a broader focus on Iowa legal issues, though it occasionally published articles of general scope. This transition from a narrow faculty bulletin to a student-edited journal in 1935 set the stage for a publication that would eventually rank 14th among 1550 journals in the Washington and Lee University School of Law rankings. The early years were defined by a struggle to balance local relevance with national significance, a tension that would become a hallmark of the publication's identity.

Pioneering The Symposium Model

In 1933, the Iowa Law Review made history by becoming the first law review to publish a symposium, a format that would later become a staple of legal academia. The symposium, titled Administrative Law Based upon Legal Writings 1931-1933, focused on administrative law and demonstrated the journal's willingness to tackle emerging legal fields before they became mainstream. This innovation allowed the journal to curate in-depth discussions on specific topics, fostering a collaborative environment where scholars could engage with complex legal theories. The symposium model proved so successful that it became a recurring feature, enabling the Iowa Law Review to address issues of national importance with depth and rigor. By the 1960s, the journal had established itself as a leader in legal scholarship, using symposia to shape debates on administrative law and beyond.

Empirical Studies That Changed Laws

The Contemporary Studies Project, launched in 1968, transformed the Iowa Law Review from a theoretical journal into a force for empirical legal research. These large-scale projects, often lasting more than one year, were grounded in data and frequently influenced legislation and judicial reforms across Iowa and the United States. One notable example, Facts and Fallacies About Iowa Civil Commitment, published in 1970, led to a revision of Iowa's civil commitment laws in 1975. Another study, The Iowa Small Claims Court: an Empirical Analysis, published in 1990, has been widely cited and relied upon by courts throughout the US. The journal's commitment to empirical research distinguished it from other law reviews, which often focused solely on doctrinal analysis. By grounding its scholarship in real-world data, the Iowa Law Review demonstrated the practical impact of legal research on policy and justice.

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1915 establishments in Iowa5 times per year journalsAcademic journals established in 1915American law journalsEnglish-language journalsGeneral law journalsLaw journals edited by studentsUniversity of Iowa College of Law

The Supreme Court cited the Iowa Law Review in March 2010 in the case of Padilla v. Kentucky. The citation referenced Jenny Roberts' article titled Ignorance Is Effectively Bliss. This citation further cemented the journal's reputation as a source of groundbreaking legal analysis.

When did the Iowa Law Review become entirely student-edited?

The Iowa Law Review has been entirely student-edited since 1935. This transition from a faculty-only publication to a student-edited journal set the stage for its modern format. The student-led approach has allowed the journal to remain agile and responsive to emerging legal issues while providing students with hands-on experience in editing and research.

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Citations That Shaped Supreme Court Rulings

The Iowa Law Review has achieved rare recognition from the highest courts in the land, with its scholarship cited in landmark decisions that reshaped American law. In April 2009, the Iowa Supreme Court cited a student note from the journal in its decision of Varnum v. Brien, which struck down the state's ban on gay marriage. The United States Supreme Court also drew upon the journal's work, citing Randall P. Bezanson's Institutional Speech in its January 2010 decision of Citizens United v. FEC. Justices Scalia and Stevens referenced the article in separate concurring opinions, highlighting the journal's influence on constitutional interpretation. In March 2010, the Supreme Court cited Jenny Roberts' Ignorance Is Effectively Bliss in Padilla v. Kentucky, further cementing the journal's reputation as a source of groundbreaking legal analysis. These citations underscored the journal's ability to produce scholarship that resonates beyond academic circles and into the halls of power.

A Legacy Of Student Leadership

Since 1935, the Iowa Law Review has been entirely student-edited, a practice that has fostered a unique culture of legal scholarship and leadership. This student-led approach has allowed the journal to remain agile and responsive to emerging legal issues, while also providing students with hands-on experience in editing, research, and publication. The journal's history is filled with stories of students who have gone on to become influential judges, legislators, and legal scholars, all thanks to the rigorous training they received while editing the Iowa Law Review. The student editors have maintained the journal's high standards, ensuring that it remains a respected voice in the legal community. This tradition of student leadership has been a cornerstone of the journal's success, distinguishing it from other law reviews that rely more heavily on faculty oversight.