The Jason Carter civil trial has taken another turn, as the Iowa Supreme Court will hear an appeal by Carter’s legal team on January 21st. Carter had been acquitted of murder charges for the death of his mother, Shirley Carter, but was found civilly responsible for her death in December 2017.

Carter contends that the district court erred in:

Denying his motion to continue the trial while the homicide investigation was pending
Denying his motion to quash plaintiffs’ subpoenas to the DCI
Denying his motion notwithstanding the verdict
Dismissing his petitions to vacate
Failing to recuse

In February, Marion County Judge Martha Mertz ruled that the civil court ruling would stand after previously saying that the result of the criminal trial does not invalidate the findings of the civil trial.

Shirley Carter died of two gunshot wounds in June 2015. Jason Carter was acquitted in March 2019.