Opinion ID: 2785969
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: jurisdiction

Text: Before we reach the merits of Matlock’s appeal, we must determine if our court has jurisdiction over this matter. The State alleges the appeal is untimely because Matlock did not file an appeal within thirty days following the October 2 order; and therefore, we do not have 5 jurisdiction over the appeal. See Iowa R. App. P. 6.101(1)(b). Matlock filed his notice of appeal on December 18, within thirty days after the district court ordered Matlock released from CCUSO with supervision. In the October 2 order, the district court ordered Matlock “be discharged from the program” but then determined “it is in the best interest of the community to order release with or without supervision before [Matlock] is discharged.” The district court directed DHS to prepare a release plan within thirty days. 1 In this order, the district court also overruled Matlock’s argument that Iowa Code section 229A.9A is unconstitutional. After DHS prepared the release plan, the district court held a second hearing on November 7. At the November 7 hearing, Matlock renewed his constitutional objections to supervision because he was no longer a sexually violent predator as defined by the Code. Following the hearing, the district court entered a written order on November 18, ordering the release of Matlock with supervision and ordering him to follow the conditions of the release plan prepared by DHS. We do not consider a ruling final if the district court intends to act further on the case before entering its final decision of the issues. See River Excursions, Inc. v. City of Davenport, 359 N.W.2d 475, 477 (Iowa 1984). Here, the district court explicitly recognized its ruling on Matlock’s liberty restrictions would not be final until it ruled on the terms of supervision, if any. An appeal from the October 2 order would have been premature. Accordingly, the district court entered the final order in this case on November 18, and the appeal was timely. 1The legislature amended Iowa Code section 229A.9A(2) in 2014 to extend the time DHS has to prepare the release plan from thirty to sixty days. See 2014 Iowa Acts ch. 1059, § 2 (codified at Iowa Code § 229A.9A(2) (2015)). 6