Opinion ID: 1251400
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Statute of Limitations for Postconviction Actions.

Text: Any person convicted of a public offense and who claims there exists evidence of material facts, not previously presented and heard, that require vacation of a conviction in the interest of justice may institute a postconviction proceeding to secure relief. Iowa Code § 663A.2(4) (1991). [1] Prior to July 1, 1984, a postconviction relief action could be filed at any time. Id. § 663A.3 (1983). In 1984, the legislature amended the Code to include a three-year statute of limitations for postconviction actions. 1984 Iowa Acts ch. 1193, § 1. Schrier's direct appeal ruling was filed by us on January 4, 1981. Under our holding in Brewer v. Iowa District Court, 395 N.W.2d 841, 844 (Iowa 1986), any postconviction action by Schrier should have been filed by June 30, 1987. The statute that imposes a three-year time period for bringing postconviction actions, also contains an exception for a ground of fact or law that could not have been raised within the applicable time period. Iowa Code § 663A.3 (1991). The State in its motion to dismiss urged Schrier had previously raised a challenge to the scientific evidence in his first postconviction action. However, the district court was not required to determine if Schrier met the statutory exception because the State consented to a new trial.