Rules and Laws for Civil Actions 2023

Written rules are central to order, and the fair, just, and efficient resolution of disputes. Too many rules, however, and the process for resolving disputes can become so arcane and convoluted that these goals fall out of reach. The rules contained in this book are the foundation for the judicial resolution of disputes in the United States. Although they may seem overwhelming at the outset, they will quickly become familiar to you over the course of your law school education. Knowledge of the rules is a great asset for all lawyers, regardless of the specific type of law they practice.

This book, made possible by a University of Iowa OpenHawks grant, contains the primary rules that law students will work with during their first year of law school, as well as in advanced litigation courses. It begins with the U.S. Constitution, then provides the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure: the procedural rules relating to disputes between private parties heard in federal court. Following the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are the Federal Rules of Evidence, which govern evidence at trial, and the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedures, which set out the process for appeals in the federal system. While these rules are all federal, most states have similar procedures. Following the federal rules are a series of federal statutes relating to the judicial system. We have also included some state statutes relating to personal jurisdiction in state courts, as well as several Iowa statutes relating to judicial procedure.


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