A new trial is the reexamination in the same court of any issue of fact or part thereof, after a verdict, or master's report, or a decision of the court.
Rule 1.1002.New trial defined
Division X: Proceedings After Judgment · Last amended February 15, 2002 · Last verified July 15, 2026
In one sentenceRule 1.1002 defines a new trial as the same court's reexamination of any issue of fact, or part of one, after a verdict, a master's report, or a decision of the court.
Full Text of Rule 1.1002
Plain-English Summary
Rule 1.1002 is a definition, and a short one: a new trial is the reexamination in the same court of any issue of fact or part thereof, after a verdict, or a master's report, or a decision of the court. It happens in the same court that heard the case the first time, not on appeal to a different tribunal.
The definition reaches beyond jury trials — it covers a reexamination after a verdict, a master's report, or the court's own decision in a bench trial, so the new trial mechanism is not limited to cases decided by a jury. The grounds that justify granting one are set out separately, in Rule 1.1004.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a “new trial” under Iowa's rules?
Rule 1.1002 defines it as the same court's reexamination of any issue of fact, or part of an issue, after a verdict, a master's report, or a decision of the court.
Does a new trial happen in a different court?
No. The definition specifies a reexamination “in the same court.”
Can a new trial address just part of the case rather than the whole thing?
Yes. The definition covers “any issue of fact or part thereof.”
Does this rule apply after a bench trial, not just a jury trial?
Yes. It applies after a verdict, a master's report, or a decision of the court.
Where are the grounds for getting a new trial listed?
Rule 1.1004 lists the grounds for a new trial.
Source & verification. Rule text and the Comment are
reproduced verbatim from the Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the
Iowa Supreme Court. Last verified July 15, 2026.
· Official source
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