Opinion ID: 2062030
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Retraction Defense

Text: In his reply brief, Walker argues that he retracted his false statements via the verbal exchange with De Krey prior to leaving the legal services office, during which he admitted he had not yet served Bearden. Our perjury statute provides for retraction as a defense. It states as follows: No person shall be guilty of perjury if the person retracts the false statement in the course of the proceedings where it was made before the false statement has substantially affected the proceeding. Iowa Code § 720.2. We need not decide whether Walker retracted his false statement. Walker first raised this defense in his reply brief. We have long held that an issue cannot properly be asserted for the first time in a reply brief. See Young v. Gregg, 480 N.W.2d 75, 78 (Iowa 1992); Iowa R.App. P. 14(f)(3). Thus, Walker's argument comes too late for our consideration.