Des Moines, August 18, 2014– The Iowa Supreme Court today announced its 2014-2015 adjudicative term calendar, including special sessions to hear oral arguments in communities around the state. The court's adjudicative term will be from September 2, 2014, to June 30, 2015.

The court will hear special session oral arguments in Iowa City, Storm Lake, Creston, and Decorah. The evening sessions are scheduled for the convenience of members of the public who wish to attend. Drake University School of Law and the University of Iowa College of Law will also host oral arguments with limited seating for the public. There will be a special evening session in Des Moines in February for central Iowa residents who may not have been able to attend the court's regular morning and afternoon sessions.

"In the past three years, the Iowa Supreme Court has visited 13 communities for evening oral arguments and public receptions," Chief Justice Mark Cady said. "Talking with people in these communities has given us a tremendous, first-hand insight into what Iowans expect from their court system now and into the future. During that same time, we have visited 84 high schools, colleges, and universities to talk with students about the role of the Iowa Judicial Branch and the importance of the rule of law in resolving the disputes Iowans bring before us."

The court's special sessions schedule:

The court will continue its regular schedule of oral arguments in Des Moines during the adjudicative term. All supreme court oral arguments are open to the public. Oral arguments heard in Des Moines are streamed live on the Internet and archived on the Iowa Judicial Branch website at http://www.iowacourts.gov/About_the_Courts/Supreme_Court/Oral_Argument_Videos/ .

Between May, 2011, and April, 2014, the supreme court heard oral arguments in Cedar Rapids, Mason City, Carroll, Council Bluffs, Bettendorf, Ottumwa, Waterloo, Sioux City, Dubuque, Fort Dodge, Burlington, Clarinda, and Toledo. Coinciding with each visit, the justices met with high school and college government and American history classes.

The court's complete calendar for its 2014-2015 term is on the Iowa Judicial Branch website at http://www.iowacourts.gov/About_the_Courts/Supreme_Court/Oral_Argument_Schedule/ .

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DAVENPORT, IOWA – Can a 16 year old genius attorney learn to survive in the adult world of law and litigation? That's the question answered in Jodie Toohey's new novel, Melody Madson - May It Please the Court? Toohey will be celebrating publication of the book with a launch party open to the public on Saturday, August 16, 2014, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Midwest Writing Center, located on the 3^rd floor of the Bucktown Center for the Arts, 225 E. 2^nd Street, in downtown Davenport. Toohey will be reading an excerpt, answering questions, giving away door prizes, and sharing free refreshments.

This is Toohey's fourth published book. She also has two poetry collections, Crush and Other Love Poems for Girls (2008) and Other Side of Crazy (918studio, 2013). Her other novel, Missing Emily: Croatian Life Letters was released in 2012. She was also a contributor to the MWC Creative Writing Primer (2012, MWC Press). Melody Madson - May It Please the Court? is available for sale on Amazon.com and other online retailers. It will also be available after the launch at both The Book Rack locations, Exotic Imports at Southpark, and can be requested at other local book sellers. She's also giving away two free copies through Goodreads.com.

"I was inspired to write this novel while working as a paralegal," Toohey states, adding "In many ways, even though I was in my 20s, I felt like I was 16 when I started that work." In the novel, Melody finally gets her big break when senior partner at Lazlo, Marshdon and Brown assigns her first real case. Melody's relationship with her best friend, Jewel, becomes strained as her friendship with another associate, Maggie, advances and she develops romantic feelings for her boss' son, Eric. Her feelings for Eric deepen, her relationship with Jewel sours, the key medical record in her case is lost, and Melody feels her life is crumbling. After working the entire weekend before trial, Melody finds the record, but before she can celebrate, she's caught. Jewel attempts to free Melody but she is caught and the friends are tied to an office chair, driven out to the middle of nowhere, and left alone, not knowing if they'll be able to save the case - or themselves.

When she is not writing novels, Jodie Toohey operates Wordsy Woman Word Sales and Service, a professional writing and editing business that helps people say what they want to say. She lives with her husband, daughter, son, cat, and dog in Davenport, Iowa. To learn more about Toohey and her books, visit www.jodietoohey.com.