State Of Iowa Vs. Ross Ian Cashen

WIGGINS, Justice.

In this appeal, we review a district court order and court of appeals decision allowing a criminal defendant to gain access to a victim’s privileged mental health records. The district court and the court of appeals allowed the defendant access without restriction. We now adopt a protocol that balances a patient’s right to privacy in his or her mental health records against a defendant’s right to present evidence to a jury that might influence the jury’s determination of guilt. Accordingly, we vacate the decision of the court of appeals, affirm in part and reverse in part the…