Opinion ID: 2042442
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Admissibility of the Suppression Ruling.

Text: The defendants in their motion in limine urged Judge Renda's suppression ruling should not be admitted as evidence because it was not relevant and its admission would be prejudicial. When granting the motion, the district court stated the suppression ruling was not admissible for the reasons urged by the defendants. Harris argues the suppression ruling was relevant and cites Norton v. Adair County, 441 N.W.2d 347 (Iowa 1989). In Norton, an employee claimed her local union had breached its duty of fair representation in the handling of a grievance. One of the elements of this claim required that she prove that she was discharged without proper cause. Id. at 356. After her discharge, Norton applied for unemployment benefits through Job Service. In an administrative proceeding, Job Service found she had not engaged in misconduct and was therefore entitled to unemployment benefits. Norton offered testimony regarding the Job Service case and the written Job Service decision was received as an exhibit. Though the Job Service decision was not dispositive on the fair representation claim, we determined that the finding that Norton had not engaged in misconduct was probative as to the discharge without proper cause issue. We held the district court had not abused its discretion by allowing introduction of this evidence. Id. at 358. Assuming the suppression ruling is relevant, we conclude the district court did not abuse its discretion in granting the defendants' in limine motion. The determination of relevancy of evidence rests within the sound discretion of the trial court and will be reversed only upon a showing that such discretion has been abused. Norton, 441 N.W.2d at 357. Evidence may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. Iowa R.Evid. 403. The balancing decision under rule 403 is a matter for the trial court's discretion. Kelly v. Iowa State Educ. Ass'n, 372 N.W.2d 288, 299 (Iowa App.1985) (citing State v. Williams, 360 N.W.2d 782, 787 (Iowa 1985)). The relevancy of the suppression ruling would be marginal at best, yet the unfair prejudice which could result from the jury learning that a judge had found the search illegal is potentially very great. In determining the consent issue, a jury would likely rely heavily upon the judge's decision to the detriment of all other evidence. The court did not abuse its discretion in excluding the suppression ruling. DECISION OF COURT OF APPEALS VACATED; DISTRICT COURT JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.