author: SNELL, Justice.

text:
    Roger WELTZIN, Arnold Noe, and Roland Riensche, For themselves and all other shareholders of Laporte City Cooperative Elevators, Appellants, v. Michael NAIL, James E. Johnson, Gary Wilt, Greg Wellman, Steve Vaughn, Rory Brown, Ron Bader, Marvin Brecher, John Lee, Gary Blocker, Nick Meier, Cobank, ACB, Kenneth Grant, and Laporte City Cooperative Elevators, Appellees.
    No. 98-2114.
    Supreme Court of Iowa.
    Oct. 11, 2000.

      Morris L. Eckhart, Vinton, for appellants.
    Kelly R. Baier and Paul D. Burns of Bradley & Riley, P.C., Cedar Rapids, for appellee Michael Nail.
    Gregory M. Lederer of Simmons, Per-rine, Albright & Ellwood, P.L.C., Cedar Rapids, for appellees James E. Johnson, Gary Wilt, Greg Wellman, Steve Vaughn, Rory Brown, Ron Bader, Marvin Brecher, John Lee, Gary Blocker, and Nick Meier.
    John M. Wharton of Peddicord, Wharton, Thune and Spencer, P.C., Des Moines, for appellees Cobank, ACB, and Kenneth Grant.
    Gregory B. Wilcox of Nyemaster, Goode, McLaughlin, Voigts, West, Hansell & O’Brien, A.P.C., Des Moines, for appellee LaPorte City Cooperative Elevators.
   SNELL, Justice.

This is an interlocutory appeal from the Black Hawk County District Court. The appellant shareholders contend that their demand for a jury trial in their derivative suit was improperly stricken. We granted review and affirm the district court’s ruling.

I. Background Facts and Proceedings

The plaintiffs/appellants in this case are shareholders of LaPorte City Cooperative Elevators. On behalf of the company, they brought a shareholder’s derivative lawsuit against its directors and officers. A derivative lawsuit is unique in that the shareholders allege the company’s directors have directly harmed it by their acts and omissions such that the company has suffered a loss. The shareholders indirectly assert their rights through the rights of the company.

In the present suit, the shareholders assert that the company’s former directors and officers committed multiple breaches. Specifically, the shareholders allege former manager Michael Nail committed a negligent breach of his fiduciary duties and made fraudulent misrepresentations. They seek compensatory and punitive damages from Nail for his actions. The shareholders also contend that several former directors and the company’s loan officer committed negligence in the performance of their duties. For these actions, the shareholders seek money damages. Although in equity, the shareholders filed a demand for jury trial with their petition.

In response to the petition, Nail answered with the affirmative defense of comparative fault, including a failure to mitigate damages, and asserted he was immune from liability for actions taken in performance of his duties. See Iowa Code § 499.59 (1997). Similarly, the other defendants asserted their immunity under section 499.59. All defendants joined in a motion to strike the jury demand made by the shareholders.

It is from this backdrop that the issue of the present appeal stems. The district court sustained the defendants’ motion to strike the plaintiffs’ demand for a jury trial. The court explained that a shareholder’s derivative lawsuit could only be brought in equity and, therefore, no jury was warranted. While the court recognized that several claims and defenses were legal ones, because “the underlying essential character of the action [was] equitable in nature ... plaintiffs [were] not entitled to a jury trial.”

The shareholders then timely filed an application for interlocutory appeal on the jury issue. The shareholders argue that because their suit raises legal issues and remedies they are entitled to a jury determination. Specifically, the issue is: Under Iowa law, do shareholders in a derivative lawsuit have the right to a jury, when several claims are legal in nature, all affirmative defenses are legal, and Iowa recognizes the general inviolate right to a jury trial, but the overall nature of the action is equitable?

II. Scope of Review

An interlocutory appeal from a court in equity is reviewed de novo. Sear v. Clayton County Zoning Bd. of Adjustment, 590 N.W.2d 512, 515 (Iowa 1999); see Iowa R.App. P. 4. This court should “examine the entire record and adjudicate anew the rights on the issues properly presented.” In re Marriage of Maher, 596 N.W.2d 561, 564 (Iowa 1999). Weight may be given to the court’s findings, however, this court is not bound by them. Sear, 590 N.W.2d at 515. While de novo review allows the appellate court to consider the facts and issues in their entirety, the court can only review issues properly preserved. In re Marriage of Hitchcock, 265 N.W.2d 599, 606 (Iowa 1978). Error was preserved by the shareholders’ timely application for interlocutory appeal on the jury issue.

III. Issue on Appeal

Whether the plaintiff in a shareholder’s derivative suit is entitled to a jury is a fairly unsettled question across the country. Compare Nelson v. Anderson, 72 Cal.App.4th 111, 84 Cal.Rptr.2d 753, 760 (1999) (“A minority shareholder’s action for damages for the breach of fiduciary duties of the majority shareholder is one in equity, with no right to a jury trial.”), with Rocha Toussier y Asociados, S.C. v. Rivero, 201 A.D.2d 282, 607 N.Y.S.2d 282, 282 (1994) (holding that the plaintiff in a shareholder’s derivative suit was entitled to a jury where demand for relief was legal in nature although it also contained equitable demands).

While never addressing the derivative suit issue, we have recognized that there is no right to a jury trial generally in cases brought in equity. Moser v. Thorp Sales Corp., 312 N.W.2d 881, 896 (Iowa 1981). “Generally, if the cause of action is equitable in character, even in part, and equity jurisdiction once attaches, full and complete adjustment of the rights of all parties will be properly made in the suit.” 27A Am.Jur.2d Equity § 5 (1996). Other legal sources have reached a similar conclusion specifically regarding shareholder’s derivative suits. See generally 19 Am. Jur.2d Corporations § 2373 (1986) (“[I]n the absence of statutory provisions to the contrary, ... in such a suit in state court, the stockholders are not entitled, as a matter of right to a trial by jury.”). The shareholders here urge us to attach the right to a jury trial in equity because several of their claims and remedies are legal. They further argue that legal defenses raised should be heard by a jury.

A. Iowa Jurisprudence

Iowa has previously addressed the issue of jury trials in an equity case involving a trust. Carstens v. Cent. Nat’l Bank & Trust Co., 461 N.W.2d 331 (Iowa 1990). As is the case here, Carstens came before this court on interlocutory appeal after the plaintiffs’ jury demands were denied. See id. at 332. However, the trust case was originally brought at law. Id. We held that because the trust beneficiaries’ rights had not yet vested, the suit could only be brought in equity, and thus, plaintiffs were not entitled to a jury determination. Id. at 333-34. The relevant portion of the opinion is the court’s discussion of the distinction between equity and law suits. Id. at 333. We stated: “The commencement of an action at law or an action in equity does not provide or deprive a party of the right to a jury trial of issues ordinarily triable to a jury.” Id. This statement was made in the context of a case improperly filed at law.

That being said, we later concluded that no jury was warranted because the action was actually one in equity. Id. at 334. The court also stated: “We look at the essential nature of the cause of action, rather than solely at the remedy, to determine if a party is entitled to a jury trial.” Id. at 333 (emphasis added); see Moser, 312 N.W.2d at 895 (finding that the fact the remedy is legal in nature does not automatically take the case out of the purview of the equity court). This suggests that the remedy sought is of minimal importance — it is the nature of the cause of action, i.e., where the case is properly docketed, that is the deciding factor.

It should be noted that in Car-stens there was a dispute about what type' of action the trust claim was, legal or equitable. See Carstens, 461 N.W.2d at 332-34. Here, it is clear that the nature of a shareholder’s derivative suit is equitable only. See Holi-Rest, Inc. v. Treloar, 217 N.W.2d 517, 523 (Iowa 1974) (“A shareholder’s derivative action is equitable in nature.”). This fact is admitted by the shareholders. Likewise, there is no common law counter-part to a derivative suit available to shareholders. The derivative suit exists only in equity. Moreover, because the nature is known here, Carstens has bearing on the present case only to the extent that the court held the remedy sought is not the deciding factor to obtain a jury. See Carstens, 461 N.W.2d at 333.

1. The Effect of Legal Remedies Sought on the Equitable Claim

In their brief, the shareholders urge us to accept the proposition that “[t]he essential character of a cause of action to determine whether the right to jury trial exists is the relief it seeks.” In support of this statement, the shareholders cite Carstens. This is a misstatement of the court’s holding in that case. As noted earlier, the court explained that it was the nature of the case itself rather than solely the remedy that tips the balance in favor of or against providing a jury. Id. The court found that even though the trust beneficiaries were seeking money damages, a legal remedy, because the case could only be founded in equity, there was no right to a jury. Id. at 333-34 (“Generally, the remedies of a beneficiary against the trustee are exclusively equitable.... The district court correctly sustained the motion to strike the demand for jury.”).

2. The Effect of Legal Defenses Asserted on the Equitable Claim

The shareholders also assert that a jury should hear legal defenses raised. Regarding legal defenses in equity, several Iowa cases have held:

We have recognized that a defendant has no right to a trial by jury of law issues raised in the answer to an action properly brought in equity. Once equity has obtained jurisdiction of a controversy the court will determine all questions material or necessary to accomplish full and complete justice between the parties, even though in doing so the court may be required to pass upon certain matters ordinarily cognizable at law.

In re Marriage of Stogdill, 428 N.W.2d 667, 670 (Iowa 1988); see also Grandon v. Ellingson, 259 Iowa 514, 518-19, 144 N.W.2d 898, 901 (1966) (“Equity had jurisdiction of the controversy and the raising of defenses not solely cognizable at law did not give defendant the right to a law trial on these issues.... Equity may determine all matters both legal and equitable when the controversy is properly before it.”).

Similarly, if an action was brought at law, and an equitable defense raised, that would not invoke equity jurisdiction automatically. 27A Am.Jur.2d Equity § 5. It should follow then that invoking a legal defense in a shareholder’s derivative suit does not defeat equitable jurisdiction.

3. The Effect of a Counterclaim on the Equitable Claim

Iowa does provide the right to a jury trial for defendants who assert a legal counterclaim in an equity action. See Conrad v. Dorweiler, 189 N.W.2d 537, 538-39 (Iowa 1971) (holding that this is true where the counterclaim raises severa-ble issues); see also 27A Am.Jur.2d Equity § 235 (“A defendant also may have a right to jury trial if he or she is required compulsorily to assert his or her legal counterclaim.... ”). While Iowa courts have recognized that not all equity cases can proceed without a jury on every issue, we choose not to extend this holding to the plaintiffs in a shareholder’s derivative suit.

B. Federal Jurisprudence

The United States Supreme Court has oppositely ruled on this issue and held that a plaintiff in a shareholder’s derivative suit, although in equity, is entitled to a jury under the Seventh Amendment. Ross v. Bernhard, 396 U.S. 531, 532-37, 542, 90 S.Ct. 733, 735-38, 740, 24 L.Ed.2d 729, 733-36, 738 (1970). However, the persuasion of this case is hindered by the fact that the Seventh Amendment has never been made applicable to the states. See Iowa Nat’l Mut. Ins. Co. v. Mitchell, 305 N.W.2d 724, 726 (Iowa 1981); see also Rankin v. Frebank Co., 47 Cal.App.3d 75, 121 Cal.Rptr. 348, 358-59 (1975) (holding that the Court’s decision in Ross was unavailable to plaintiffs in a shareholder’s derivative suit in their attempt to secure a jury)-

1. Comparison Between Federal and Iowa Jury Provisions

The Seventh Amendment states in part that “the right of trial by jury shall be preserved.... ” U.S. Const, amend. VII; see also Fed.R.Civ.P. 38 (“The right of trial by jury as declared by the Seventh Amendment to the Constitution or as given by a statute of the United States shall be preserved to the parties inviolate.”). Similarly, the Iowa Constitution proclaims: “The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate.... ” Iowa Const, art. I, § 9. While not identical, both federal and state provisions appear to provide the same general preference for jury trials. Iowa has not made this mandate limitless, however, evidenced by its own civil rules. “Issues for which a jury is demanded shall be tried to a jury unless the court finds that there is no right thereto.... ” Iowa R. Civ. P. 178 (emphasis added). This rule recognizes that in some cases, there is simply no right to a jury.

Ordinarily, the “Seventh Amendment does not preserve the right to trial by jury in equity actions.... ” 27A Am.Jur.2d Equity § 234. Likewise, a derivative suit can only be brought in equity because “[t]he common law refused ... to permit stockholders to call corporate managers to account in actions at law” where a jury would be available. Ross, 396 U.S. at 534, 90 S.Ct. at 736, 24 L.Ed.2d at 733-34. Nonetheless, the Supreme Court found this right did exist in an equitable derivative action where “the corporation, if it had been suing in its own right, would have been entitled to a jury.” Id. at 532-33, 90 S.Ct. at 735, 24 L.Ed.2d at 733.

2. Ross’s Usefulness Under Our Circumstances

In Ross, the Court specifically disagreed with the proposition that “in no event does the right to a jury trial extend to derivative actions brought by the stockholders of a corporation.” Id. at 532, 90 S.Ct. at 735, 24 L.Ed.2d at 733. The Court declared that “legal claims are not magically converted into equitable issues by their presentation to a court of equity in a derivative suit.” Id. at 537, 90 S.Ct. at 738, 24 L.Ed.2d at 736.

Similar to our facts, in Ross, the shareholders of Lehman Corporation brought a derivative suit on behalf of the corporation alleging breach of fiduciary duties and negligence and requesting money damages. Id. at 541, 90 S.Ct. at 740, 24 L.Ed.2d. at 738. Generally, a fiduciary duty claim is one reserved for equity. However, tort claims such as negligence, breach of contract (asserted in Ross), and fraudulent misrepresentation (asserted in the present case) are direct wrongs against the corporation itself where the corporation could sue at law to obtain relief. The Supreme Court questioned why, when these legal claims were raised by shareholders instead, the “ ‘right to a jury trial should be taken away because the present plaintiff [could not] persuade the only party having a cause of action to sue ...’?” Id. at 535, 90 S.Ct. at 736, 24 L.Ed.2d at 734 (quoting Fleitmann v. Welsbach St. Lighting Co. of Am., 240 U.S. 27, 28, 36 S.Ct. 233, 234, 60 L.Ed. 505, 506 (1916)). Accordingly, it held that the legal claims must be heard by a jury under the Seventh Amendment. Id. at 541, 90 S.Ct. at 740, 24 L.Ed.2d at 738.

3. Determining Which Issues Are Legal

If we adopt the holding in Ross, it would then be necessary to determine which of the shareholders’ claims in the present case are legal such that they should be heard by a jury. Fraudulent misrepresentation is a legal claim. See Steckelberg v. Randolph, 448 N.W.2d 458, 459 (Iowa 1989). But see 27A Am.Jur.2d Equity § 6 (stating that fraud is one of the “most important grounds for equitable intervention”). Negligence is a legal claim. See Bohan v. Hogan, 567 N.W.2d 234, 237 (Iowa 1997). Breach of fiduciary duty is an equitable claim. Cunningham v. Kartridg Pak Co., 332 N.W.2d 881, 883 (Iowa 1983) (“As a matter of general corporate law, shareholders have no claim for injuries to their corporations by third parties unless within the context of a derivative action.”).

Confusion would be triggered when negligence or . fraud were the actions that caused the alleged equitable breach. A breach of fiduciary duty claim is not an individual tort in its own right at common law. Clinton Land Co. v. M/S Assocs., Inc., 340 N.W.2d 232, 234 n. 1 (Iowa 1983). It is usually brought at law, bootstrapped by a tort like negligence or fraudulent misrepresentation. See id. However, it is a recognized individual claim in equity under a derivative suit. Rowen v. LeMars Mut. Ins. Co., 282 N.W.2d 639, 651-52 (Iowa 1979); 27A Am.Jur.2d. Equity § 6.

The question here becomes, if this court were to adopt the Ross reasoning, would the negligence and fraud claims be severa-ble from the breach of duty claim such that a jury should hear them? Were we to adopt Ross, this would create quite a quandary for the lower courts to distinguish between the claims. For this reason, as well as those stated throughout the opinion, we choose not to extend the Supreme Court’s holding in relation to the Seventh Amendment to shareholder’s derivative suits brought in Iowa.

The Ross minority similarly recognized this classification problem created by the majority. See Ross, 396 U.S. at 550, 90 S.Ct. at 744, 24 L.Ed.2d at 743 (Stewart, J., dissenting). Justice Stewart stated:

The fact is, of course, that there are, for the most part, no such things as inherently “legal issues” or inherently “equitable issues.” There are only factual issues, and like chameleons [they] take their color from surrounding circumstances. Thus, the Court’s “nature of the issue” approach is hardly meaningful.

Id. (Stewart, J., dissenting) (quotations and footnote omitted).

The issue of money damages makes it no clearer. “[A]n action seeking recovery of monetary damages will generally give rise to a right to trial by jury-” 19 Am.Jur.2d Corporations § 2465; see Carstens, 461 N.W.2d at 333. However, just because shareholders are seeking money damages in a derivative suit does not mean a jury is warranted because the derivative suit itself is founded in equity. 19 Am.Jur.2d Corporations § 2465. The Minnesota Supreme Court has addressed the issue of money damages in an equity case and held: “[A] right to a jury trial is not guaranteed merely because plaintiffs only seek monetary damages.” Uselman v. Uselman, 464 N.W.2d 130, 137 (Minn.1990). A request for reimbursement/restitution disguised as money damages is properly heard in equity. See id.

In the present case, the shareholders seek money damages for the actions of the officers and directors that led to LaPorte City Cooperative Elevators losing a substantial amount of money by, e.g., failing to collect on accounts receivable, failing to comply with the company’s credit policy, and failing to maintain awareness about the company’s financial situation. Through the defendant’s actions, the shareholders are alleging the company lost money. Thus, they are actually seeking restitution, styled as money damages. Restitution is defined as an “[a]ct of ... restoration of anything to its rightful owner; the act of making good or giving equivalent for any loss, damage or injury....” Black’s Law Dictionary 1477 (rev. 4th ed.1968). Restitution is an equitable remedy which creates no right to a jury. See Krinsk v. Fund Asset Mgmt., Inc., 875 F.2d 404, 414 (2d Cir.1989).

Money damages to remedy the corporation are not uncommon in derivative suits — yet the case remains in equity. See generally Rowen, 282 N.W.2d at 656 (“[A] money award in a derivative suit is more appropriately referred to as a judgment for restitution rather than as one for damages.... [W]e use the terms interchangeably.”). Similarly, punitive damages, like the kind asked for in the present case, are also within the purview of the equity court. Holden v. Constr. Mach. Co., 202 N.W.2d 348, 359 (Iowa 1972) (holding this is true even where no actual damages can be shown); Charles v. Epperson & Co., 258 Iowa 409, 432, 137 N.W.2d 605, 617-618 (1965) (finding exemplary damages appropriate for defendant’s fraudulent conduct). But see Fleitmann, 240 U.S. at 28-29, 36 S.Ct. at 234, 60 L.Ed. at 506-07 (declaring claims for treble damages should be heard by a jury).

4. The National Treatment of Ross Regarding Derivative Suits

It should be noted there was a strong dissent in Ross claiming the majority opinion was ill-conceived and biased in favor of more juries. Ross, 396 U.S. at 543-51, 90 S.Ct. at 740-45, 24 L.Ed.2d at 739-43 (Stewart, J., dissenting). Specifically, the dissent argued the Seventh Amendment only preserved the right to a jury trial to suits cognizable at common law. Id. at 543, 90 S.Ct. at 741, 24 L.Ed.2d at 739 (Stewart, J., dissenting). A shareholder’s derivative suit does not exist under common law and is solely a case in equity regardless that legal issues are raised.

[W]hen the Court said ... “it is clear” that the remedy of a stockholder seeking to enforce the rights of a corporation — whatever their nature — is not in law but in equity, it was not because there were “procedural impediments” to a jury trial on “legal issues.” Rather, it was because the suit itself was conceived of as a wholly equitable cause of action.

Id. at 547, 90 S.Ct. at 742, 24 L.Ed.2d at 741 (Stewart, J., dissenting) (quoting United Copper Sec. Co. v. Amalgamated Copper Co., 244 U.S. 261, 264, 37 S.Ct. 509, 510, 61 L.Ed. 1119, 1125 (1917)).

Many states have taken the same approach and not afforded the right to a jury in derivative suits because of their equitable nature. See, e.g., Hames v. Cravens, 332 Ark. 437, 966 S.W.2d 244, 246-48 (1998); Rankin, 121 CaLRptr. at 358-59; Lanman Lithotech, Inc. v. Gurwitz, 478 So.2d 425, 426-27 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App.1985); see also Uselman, 464 N.W.2d at 137-38 (finding in Minnesota there is no right to a jury in any case in equity); Hashem v. Taheri, 82 Md.App. 269, 571 A.2d 837, 840 (1990) (holding that a plaintiff in equity was only entitled to a jury on the issue of standing).

Alabama, New York, and Wyoming have parted with the trend and extended the right to a jury to legal issues raised in derivative suits. Finance, Inv. & Rediscount Co. v. Wells, 409 So.2d 1341, 1344 (Ala.1981); Rivero, 607 N.Y.S.2d at 282; Hyatt v. Hyatt, 769 P.2d 329, 333-34 (Wyo.1989). For a detailed discussion of the national treatment of this issue, see Jean E. Maess, Annotation, Right to Jury Trial in Stockholder’s Derivative Action, 32 A.L.R.4th 1111 (1984 & Supp.1999).

The national trend appears to agree with the Ross dissent. Among the handful of states that allow a jury to hear legal issues stemming from equitable suits, many only provide advisory juries. See, e.g., Synacek v. Omaha Cold Storage Terminals, 247 Neb. 244, 526 N.W.2d 91, 94 (1995), overruled on other grounds by Billingsley v. BFM Liqzior Mgmt., Inc., 259 Neb. 992, 613 N.W.2d 478 (2000); Bowers v. Westvaco Corp., 244 Va. 139, 419 S.E.2d 661, 666 (1992). Advisory juries are implicated where it is first recognized that the “issues are not triable by jury as a matter of right.” 27A Am.Jur.2d Equity § 236. The plaintiff is able to presept his case to a jury, but the court is not bound by the jury’s recommendation. We have never recognized the usefulness of this process, nor do we do so today.

C. Complexity of the Derivative Suit and Its Effect on Due Process

Lastly, this court recognizes that in a shareholder’s derivative suit a judge is simply better equipped to hear the complicated corporation and duty claims. See Alsea Veneer, Inc. v. State, 318 Or. 33, 862 P.2d 95, 100 (1993) (“An equity court is better able to decide questions relating to the exercise of corporate discretion than is a jury.”). The Ross dissent addressed the complexity problem: “[Wjhere the issues in the case are complex — as they are likely to be in a derivative suit — much can be said for allowing court discretion to try the case itself.” Ross, 396 U.S. at 545 n. 5, 90 S.Ct. at 741 n. 5, 24 L.Ed.2d at 740 n. 5 (Stewart, J., dissenting). For this reason, Justice Stewart boldly concluded that the majority’s opinion had “a questionable basis in policy and no basis whatsoever in the Constitution.” Id. (Stewart, J., dissenting).

To adopt a similar public policy argument today does not offend any constitutional right to a jury because generally this right does not exist in equity. See 27A Am.Jur.2d Equity § 236. Moreover, allowing this type of complex case to be adjudicated by a jury may actually offend Iowa’s constitutional mandate of due process under article I, section 9. Not only does our constitution declare that the right to a jury trial is inviolate, it also provides: “[N]o person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.” Iowa Const, art. I, § 9. This is significant because several courts have denied “the parties a jury trial, reasoning that because a competent jury cannot be impaneled to decide such cases, the due process right to a fair trial is violated if the jury resolves the dispute.” Keith Broyles, Note, Taking the Courtroom into the Classroom: A Proposal for Educating the Lay Juror in Complex Litigation Cases, 64 Geo. Wash. L.Rev. 714, 716 (1996).

The Supreme Court in Ross listed juror competence as one of the considerations to be used when determining if a jury is warranted. Ross, 396 U.S. at 538 n. 10, 90 S.Ct. at 738 n. 10, 24 L.Ed.2d at 736 n. 10. It recognized that “the practical abilities and limitations of juries” could be an important factor in complex derivative suits. Id. Several courts following Ross have concluded that case complexity may indeed trump the right to a jury in order to satisfy due process requirements. See, e.g., In re Japanese Elec. Prods. Antitrust Litig., 631 F.2d 1069, 1084-89 (3d Cir.1980); Bernstein v. Universal Pictures, Inc., 79 F.R.D. 59, 66-70 (S.D.N.Y. 1978). Factors used to consider complexity are the amount of discovery, length of trial, difficulty of case concepts, intricacy of expert testimony, etc. In re Japanese, 631 F.2d at 1088-89.

Certainly case complexity is present in almost every shareholder’s derivative suit because the jury is asked to pass judgment on the intricate workings of a corporation. Often concepts like the business judgment rule and breach of fiduciary duty are difficult to understand. See Alsea Veneer, Inc., 862 P.2d at 100. Similarly, derivative suits usually involve voluminous amounts of discovery and records to trace the actions of the corporation’s officers and directors. With massive discovery comes increased length of trial. Moreover, there may be several plaintiffs and multiple defendants each being represented by different counsel. The present case is no exception. The shareholders are alleging negligence occurred over an extended period of time and was committed by multiple officers, directors, and contractors. Such a make-up is a recipe for complexity. Because juror competence would be challenged in almost every derivative suit, the court is further persuaded not to provide a jury.

Much has been written about the necessity of having equitable cases heard by a judge.

Disregarding the traditions which underlie the jury as an institution, the use of twelve individuals drawn at random with diverse education, intellectual ability, and occupations, but lacking the specialized knowledge and ability to evaluate testimony, is clearly not an ideal system for determining facts in litigation. No matter how kindly one views the jury there is no question that at times its verdict represents fiction and not fact.

8 James Wm. Moore et al., Moore’s Federal Practice § 38.101 app. (3d ed.2000). Our jurisprudence has never provided an absolute right to a jury trial in every case. One modern jurist recognized: “Of course, in a very considerable number of cases, no right to trial by jury exists because of historically determined fortuities.... Were jury trial as beneficent as its ardent devotees proclaim, such differences would be indefensibly irrational.” Skidmore v. Baltimore & O.R. Co., 167 F.2d 54, 57 n. 6 (2d Cir.1948). This court agrees that equity does not require trial by jury in a derivative suit.

IV. Conclusion

We deny the shareholders the right to a jury trial in this case because their right to bring a derivative suit exists only in equity where there is no general preference for a jury trial. To provide an avenue for shareholders to have a jury for their legal claims would prove inefficient and overly burdensome on the lower courts as well as untrained juries. To hold otherwise would further complicate already complex cases and force the court to determine which issues are legal and which are purely equitable prior to hearing an issue or submitting it to a jury.

DECISION OF THE DISTRICT COURT AFFIRMED; CASE REMANDED FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS.

All justices concur except TERNUS, J., who takes no part.


source: Caselaw Access Project

license: Public Domain

text:
    STATE of Iowa, Appellant, v. William Patrick MAHER, Appellee.
    No. 99-1409.
    Supreme Court of Iowa.
    Oct. 11, 2000.

      Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, Linda J. Hines, Assistant Attorney General, J. Patrick White, County Attorney, and Angela Boeke, Assistant County Attorney, for appellant.
    Jerald W. Kinnamon, Cedar Rapids, and J. Dean Keegan, Iowa City, for appellee.
   SNELL, Justice.

This is an appeal for discretionary review of the district court’s finding that 1999 Iowa Acts ch. 153, section 25 is ambiguous. The district court concluded that the defendant’s conviction for OWI should not be enhanced by his two previous OWI convictions which occurred within twelve years. The defendant’s conviction was reduced to OWI First. On review, we find error was committed by the district court. We reverse and remand for a determination consistent with this opinion.

I. Background Facts and Proceedings

On May 24, 1999, William Patrick Maher was found guilty of Operating While Under the Influence (OWI), Third Offense. Under the twelve-year “look back” rule in place, his two previous OWI convictions from 1990 were used to enhance his present conviction to a third offense. See Iowa Code § 321.12(4) (1999).

Prior to sentencing, Maher sought an adjudication of law points regarding a recent enactment by the Iowa Legislature. Specifically, Maher questioned the effect section 25 would have on his sentence. 1999 Iowa Acts ch. 153, § 25. Maher argued this provision limited the look back for his sentencing to only those prior OWI convictions that occurred after June 30, 1991. Maher also suggested the Act was ambiguous and as such, should be interpreted in a light most favorable to him as the defendant. Without deciding if section 25, effective July 1, 1999, applies to the timeframe of Maher’s conviction on May 24, 1999, we elect to address the issue of statutory interpretation raised by Maher.

Titled “Third Offense OWI Revocations,” section 25 specifically limited the look back to convictions occurring after June 30, 1991. Maher had two previous OWI convictions from 1990. He argued that section 25 applied to him because it limited the look back for any OWI penalty to July 1, 1991. Because his convictions occurred earlier than 1991, Maher suggested they should not have been used to elevate his present conviction. He also argued that if section 25 did not apply to him, it was ambiguous as to its true scope.

In an order dated August 6, 1999, the district court judge agreed that the Act was ambiguous. The court held:

It seems inconsistent to the Court to find that the Defendant should be convicted of a Third Offense OWI, but for the purpose of license revocation to find that the offense is not a Third Offense. The Court FINDS that the intent and language of Section 25, S.F. 189, is unclear and ambiguous. Ambiguities within a criminal statute are to be resolved in favor of the Defendant. Accordingly, Defendant’s prior OWI convictions having occurred prior to June 30, 1991, the offense herein is not enhanced and shall be deemed a First Offense....

The State filed an application for discretionary review with this court. The application was granted, staying the district court proceeding until a determination by this court.

II. Scope of Review

The court reviews an adjudication of law points for correction of errors at law. “An adjudication of law points is confined to a determination of legal matters on uncontroverted pleadings.” Mortensen v. Heritage Mut. Ins. Co., 590 N.W.2d 35, 38 (Iowa 1999); see Iowa R. Civ. P. 105. To the extent the determination involves the interpretation of a legislative provision, this court reviews for correction of errors at law. Iowa R. Civ. P. 4; In re J.J.A., 580 N.W.2d 731, 737 (Iowa 1998).

If the statute in question is not ambiguous, the determination is complete. However, when the court finds a statute is ambiguous or that reasonable minds could differ as to its meaning, the court should look to the rules of statutory construction for the interpretation. State v. Rodgers, 560 N.W.2d 585, 586 (Iowa 1997). Ambiguities in a criminal statute should be resolved in favor of the defendant. State v. Gillespie, 530 N.W.2d 446, 449 (Iowa 1995).

III. Issue on Appeal

Ordinarily, only prior OWI convictions within twelve years may be used to enhance the charge to a third offense for the purpose of license revocation. Bruno v. Iowa Dep’t of Transp., 603 N.W.2d 596, 599 (Iowa 1999); see Iowa Code § 321J.2(4)(a); 1997 Iowa Acts ch. 177, § 4. However, the Iowa Legislature amended this rule effective July 1, 1999. 1999 Iowa Acts ch. 153, § 25. In section 25, the Iowa Legislature declared:

When revoking a defendant’s driver’s license under section 321J.4, the court shall not consider a conviction under section 321J.2 which occurred on or pri- or to June 30, 1991, for the purpose of determining whether a conviction is a third or subsequent offense under section 321.2.

Id. (emphasis added). This provision deals exclusively with license revocations. It is true that the overall Act is complex, but its scope is very clear. Under its plain meaning, section 25 applies only to license revocations.

It is clear that if section 25 applies to the look back for all OWI penalties, Maher would be shielded from being sentenced for OWI Third because his two previous convictions occurred prior to July 1, 1991. However, this Act has nothing to do with the look back provision used for OWI sentencing. See Iowa Code § 321.12(4) (“A conviction ... under section 321J.2 ... shall be deleted from the operating records twelve years after the date of conviction.”). The Act temporarily defines which previous OWI convictions can be used to determine the extent of license revocations. See id. § 321J.4.

The deciding factor for the district court was the inconsistency created if an offender could be sentenced for OWI Third but have his license revoked using OWI First. The district court concluded it is against reason that Maher could be sentenced for an OWI Third but only be guilty of an OWI First for revocation purposes. It is not against reason. It is merely a distinction the legislature has chosen to make where revocation, not sentencing, is concerned. It is not uncommon in Iowa to sentence the offender for one level of OWI and revoke his license for another. See State v. Blood, 360 N.W.2d 820, 821-22 (Iowa 1985); State v. Pettit, 360 N.W.2d 833, 836 (Iowa 1985).

The purposes behind sentencing and license revocations are altogether different. Sentencing is a punishment. License revocations are merely a safeguard. “Such revocation ‘is not intended as a punishment to the driver, but is designed solely for the protection of the public in the use of the highways.’ ” Blood, 360 N.W.2d at 822 (quoting 7A Am.Jur.2d Automobiles and Highway Traffic § 112 (1980)). The legislature has the authority to declare when a court should direct the administrative agency to revoke an offender’s license. See Iowa Dep’t of Transp. v. Iowa Dist. Ct., 592 N.W.2d 41, 45 (Iowa 1999). Similarly, the legislature is not compelled to make the sentencing structure consistent with the revocation structure because both serve different purposes.

The general purpose of the license revocation statute is to protect the public from those drivers who have shown a pattern of reckless driving. State v. Moore, 569 N.W.2d 130, 132 (Iowa 1997). Moreover, this court has previously held that unlike sentencing, license revocation is not directed at the degree of guilt of the offender. Pettit, 360 N.W.2d at 836. Rather, it “is directed at keeping habitual offenders off the road — a matter of the protection of the driving public more than punishment.” Id. Pettit dealt with a scenario in reverse to Maher’s. Because of the six-year look back in place at that time, Pettit could only be convicted of OWI First. Id. However, the court could use his two previous OWI convictions to treat him as a third offender for purposes of license revocation. Id. It is not inconsistent to sentence an offender for one offense, and at the same time revoke his license for a heightened or in our case, lesser charge. Different treatment for sentencing and license revocation does not equal ambiguity.

The method traditionally in place in Iowa was a lifetime look back for determining license revocations, whereas the look back for sentencing was only six years. See State v. Sharp, 572 N.W.2d 917, 917-18 (Iowa 1997). This history clearly indicates the Iowa legislature has consistently treated the formula for OWI sentencing different from the formula for OWI license revocation. Neither is dependent on the other. This is important because, contrary to the opinion of the district court, section 25 can exist independently, without affecting what the offender can be sentenced for. It has only been recently where the look back for both became twelve years. 1997 Iowa Acts ch. 177, § 4. Following that change, the Iowa Legislature enacted section 25 to deal only with license revocations that had occurred under the lifetime look back.

Maher properly points out that when a statute is ambiguous the court should attempt to ascertain the legislature’s intent. See State v. Chrisman, 514 N.W.2d 57, 61-62 (Iowa 1994). However, we conclude that section 25 is not ambiguous. The plain meaning of the section clearly applies the Act only to license revocations.

Section 25 begins with a reference to license revocations. Similarly, it exclusively discusses license revocations throughout. Its title, in and of itself, narrows its scope only to OWI revocations. Nothing in this Act stems from a concern to limit the look back for sentencing. The only reason to conclude this section is ambiguous is because of a misplaced fear of inconsistency. This has never been a concern in prior cases, and section 25 continues that tradition. We find the district court erred when it ruled otherwise. Accordingly, we reverse the district court’s finding and remand for Maher to be sentenced as convicted for OWI, Third Offense.

REVERSED AND REMANDED.

All justices concur except NEUMAN, J., who concurs in result only.


author: TERNUS, Justice. CARTER, Justice SNELL, Justice

text:
    STATE of Iowa, Appellee, v. Kelvin ROBINSON, Appellant.
    No. 98-1040.
    Supreme Court of Iowa.
    Oct. 11, 2000.

      Linda Del Gallo, State Appellate Defender, and John P. Messina, Assistant State Appellate Defender, for appellant.
    Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, Sheryl A. Soich, Assistant Attorney General, and Stephen Holmes, County Attorney, for appellee.
   TERNUS, Justice.

The defendant, Kelvin Robinson, challenges his conviction for sexual exploitation of a minor under Iowa Code section 728.12(3) (1997), which prohibits the possession of child pornography. He claims that an exemption to this statute for educational institutions is unconstitutionally vague as applied to him. See Iowa Code § 728.7. We hold that the exemption clearly does not encompass the defendant’s conduct because the exemption does not, under any circumstances, authorize the possession of child pornography. Therefore, section 728.7 is not vague as applied to the defendant. Accordingly, we affirm.

I. Background Facts and Proceedings.

This case began with the execution of a search warrant for the defendant’s dormitory room. The authorities seized computer hardware and software belonging to the defendant that contained numerous images of minors engaged in prohibited sex acts with other minors and adults. The defendant admitted that he had transferred these images from the Internet, but asserted that he had done so in connection with the preparation of a paper for a class he was taking at Iowa State University. The police also discovered on his computer and in hard copy form a report on child prostitution.

The State charged the defendant with sexual exploitation of a minor, a serious misdemeanor. See id. § 728.12(3). This charge was based on the allegation that the defendant “did knowingly possess visual depictions of minors engaged in the live performance of prohibited sexual acts,” i.e., what is commonly known as child pornography. . See id. The defendant entered a plea of not guilty.

Subsequently, the defendant filed a motion to dismiss, contending (1) that the statutory exemption for the use of materials for educational purposes applied, see id. § 728.7, and (2) that, alternatively, the statutory exemption was vague and over-broad as applied. The district court overruled the defendant’s motion, holding that the exemption did not apply to the possession of child pornography.

On the morning the trial was scheduled to start, the defendant entered an Alford plea to the charge of sexual exploitation of a minor. This plea was made pursuant to an agreement with the State whereby the State recommended a suspended sentence, the mandatory minimum fine, a two-year maximum probationary period, and a psychological and sexual evaluation. The court accepted the defendant’s plea and he was subsequently sentenced to jail for one year, and ordered to pay the minimum statutory fine, plus costs and attorney fees. The court suspended the defendant’s jail term and placed him on probation for eighteen months. The defendant was ordered to undergo any psychological or psychiatric tests recommended by his probationary supervisor, and to complete any treatment or counseling recommended as a result of such tests.

The defendant did not file a motion in arrest of judgment to challenge the adequacy of his guilty plea. See Iowa R.Crim. P. 23(3). Instead, he filed this appeal. On appeal, the defendant claims that his conviction should be reversed because the statutory exemption, section 728.7, is unconstitutionally vague. He also makes a claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel based on counsel’s failure to argue in the district court that the defendant’s possession of the materials in question was protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. We review these claims de novo. See State v. Harness, 600 N.W.2d 294, 297 (Iowa 1999) (ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim); State v. Hunter, 550 N.W.2d 460, 462 (Iowa 1996) (vagueness claim).

II. Vagueness Claim.

A. Nature of the defendant’s vagueness claim^-facial or as applied. The defendant does not make clear in his brief the precise nature of his vagueness challenge, i.e., whether he claims the statutory exemption is vague as applied or is facially vague. We note that he made no facial vagueness claim in the trial court. Therefore, he has not preserved any error with respect to whether the statutory exemption is vague on its face. See State v. McCright, 569 N.W.2d 605, 607 (Iowa 1997) (“Issues not raised before the district court, including constitutional issues, cannot be raised for the first time on appeal.”); State v. Eames, 565 N.W.2d 323, 326 (Iowa 1997) (holding that an issue must be presented to and ruled upon by the district court before it can be asserted on appeal). Consequently, we proceed to consider his vague-as-applied claim.

B. Waiver of claim by pleading guilty. In our Hunter case, this court held that a guilty plea did not waive the defendant’s right to claim on appeal that the statute under which he was charged was unconstitutionally vague. 550 N.W.2d at 462 n. 1. Accordingly, we proceeded in Hunter to consider on its merits a vague-as-applied challenge. Id. at 465-66.

In concluding that the alleged constitutional error had not been waived in Hunter, this court relied on two cases applying the rule that a guilty plea does not waive a defense that the indictment or information charges no offense. Id. at 462 n. 1 (citing State v. White, 545 N.W.2d 552, 554 (Iowa 1996); State v. Jaeger, 249 N.W.2d 688, 690 (Iowa 1977)). We first adopted this exception to the general rule that a guilty plea waives all defenses in Jaeger. 249 N.W.2d at 690 (noting that “this court is faced with an issue of first impression”). Our formulation of the exception took the following form:

We hold that if an indictment or county attorney’s information facially shows a charge on which the State may not constitutionally prosecute, then a plea of guilty subsequent to an adverse ruling on a demurrer does not waive the claimed unconstitutionality as “no offense is stated.”

Id. (emphasis added). Thus, in Jaeger, we considered a claim that the statute under which the defendant was convicted was “unconstitutionally vague and overbroad on its face so as to charge no offense” despite the fact that the defendant had pleaded guilty to the charge. Id. at 689-90 (emphasis added).

In Hunter, however, this court extended the exception, without discussion or analysis, to encompass a claim that the statute was vague as applied. 550 N.W.2d at 465. In retrospect, we think we went too far. To employ the exception when the challenge to the conviction is based on an as applied vagueness claim would ignore the underlying rationale of the exception. That rationale is that the court will not uphold a conviction when the charge— judged on its face — is one that the state may not constitutionally prosecute. Jaeger, 249 N.W.2d at 690 (citing Menna v. New York, 423 U.S. 61, 63, 96 S.Gt. 241, 242, 46 L.Ed.2d 195, 198 (1975); Blackledge v. Peiry, 417 U.S. 21, 30-31, 94 S.Ct. 2098, 2103-04, 40 L.Ed.2d 628, 636 (1974)). To allow a challenge that does not rest on the premise that the indictment or information charges no offense would result in an exception that swallows the rule. In other words, if an as applied vagueness challenge is not waived by a guilty plea, what would be the rationale for holding that an equal protection challenge is waived? There would be no logical basis to distinguish a vague-as-applied claim from any other constitutional challenge to the statute. We think it ill-advised to adopt a rule that would create such inroads on our general rule that a guilty plea waives all defenses.

Therefore, we disavow Hunter to the extent that it stands for the proposition that a guilty plea does not waive an as applied vagueness challenge. We reaffirm our holding in Jaeger that the only defenses that are not waived by a guilty plea are those based on the ground that the indictment or information shows on its face that the charge is one that the State may not constitutionally prosecute.

We now consider the effect of our overruling of Hunter on the case before us. This court has the power in overruling a prior decision to give the new rule only prospective application. See Beeck v. S.R. Smith Co., 359 N.W.2d 482, 484 (Iowa 1984) (“Courts may hold, however, that a particular overruling decision should in fairness have only prospective application.”). This power should be exercised here. The defendant and his counsel understandably could have relied upon our decision in Hunter in deciding to enter a guilty plea, assuming that such a plea would not waive a claim that the statutes defining the defendant’s crime were unconstitutionally vague as applied. It would be unfair in the face of such reliance to announce a new rule and apply it to this case and pending cases involving the same chronology of events. If we were to apply the new rule retroactively, a defendant such as Robinson would be left between the proverbial rock and a hard place. On one hand, he would be unable to assert his constitutional vagueness challenge on appeal because his guilty plea would have waived it. On the other hand, the defendant would probably not have a viable ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim because his attorney’s reasonable reliance on Hunter would preclude a finding that “counsel’s performance fell below the normal range of competency.” Harness, 600 N.W.2d at 298 (requiring proof that defense counsel breached an essential duty by performing below the normal range of competency in order to establish an ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim). This court should avoid such an inequitable result when possible. See Beeck, 359 N.W.2d at 484 (noting that one factor to consider in giving a decision prospective application only is “the inequity imposed by retroactive application”).

We hold, therefore, that our decision today with respect to the effect of a guilty plea on a vague-as-applied challenge applies only to those cases in which the guilty plea was accepted after the date of this opinion. Accordingly, the defendant in the case before us did not waive his vagueness challenge by pleading guilty.

C. Defendant’s vague-as-applied claim. Our discussion begins with a review of the statutes under which the defendant was convicted, and an identification of the particular language that the defendant contends is unconstitutionally vague. As noted earlier, the defendant pled guilty to violating Iowa Code section 728.12(3). This statute provides:

A person who knowingly purchases or possesses a negative, slide, book, magazine, or other print or visual medium depicting a minor engaging in a prohibited sexual act or the simulation of a prohibited sexual act commits a serious misdemeanor.

Iowa Code § 728.12(3). In essence, this statute prohibits the purchase and possession of child pornography. The defendant makes no claim on appeal that this charging statute is unconstitutionally vague.

Of particular relevance to the present case is a statutory exemption for public libraries and educational institutions contained in chapter 728. This exemption states:

Nothing in this chapter prohibits the use of appropriate material for educational purposes in any accredited school, or any public library, or in any educational program in which the minor is participating. Nothing in this chapter prohibits the attendance of minors at an exhibition or display of art works or the use of any materials in any public library.

Id. § 728.7. The defendant claimed in the district court that his conduct fell within the exemption for “use of appropriate material for educational purposes in any accredited school” because he downloaded the material onto his computer to use as a resource for a school report on child prostitution and child slavery.

The defendant also asserted in a pretrial motion that the exemption was vague as applied to him. His vagueness argument focused on the language “appropriate material,” and the inability of an ordinary person to understand what that language meant. The State’s response was that section 728.12(3) prohibited the possession of images of children engaged in sex acts, and this prohibition was not affected by section 728.7. The district court ruled that “appropriate material” did not include material that was otherwise defined as illegal to possess under section 728.12(3).

On appeal, the defendant argues that “[i]f ‘appropriate material’ ... means only non-obscene material, there is no need for the section to exist.” The State, in response, claims that the exemption does not protect the possession of child pornography. We turn now to the legal principles guiding our analysis.

D. Applicable legal principles governing constitutional vague-as-applied claims. We presume a statute is constitutional. See Jim O. Inc. v. City of Cedar Rapids, 587 N.W.2d 476, 478 (Iowa 1998). Thus, “[t]he unconstitutional vagueness of a criminal statute must be demonstrated beyond a reasonable doubt.” State v. Duncan, 414 N.W.2d 91, 95 (Iowa 1987). The party challenging a statute on vagueness grounds must “negate’ every reasonable basis upon which the statute might be sustained.” Jim O. Inc., 587 N.W.2d at 478. Only where the statute “clearly, palpably and without doubt infringes the constitution” will this court declare it to be unconstitutionally vague. American Dog Owners Ass’n v. City of Des Moines, 469 N.W.2d 416, 417 (Iowa 1991).

A penal statute must “ ‘define the criminal offense with sufficient definiteness that ordinary people can understand what conduct is prohibited and in a manner that does not encourage arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement.’ ” Hunter, 550 N.W.2d at 468 (quoting Kolender v. Lawson, 461 U.S. 352, 357, 103 S.Ct. 1855, 1858, 75 L.Ed.2d 903, 909 (1983)); accord American Dog Owners Ass’n, 469 N.W.2d at 417 (holding that penal statute must give “a person of ordinary intelligence” notice of what is prohibited). In considering a vague-as-applied challenge, we examine the statute on its face to determine whether the defendant’s conduct clearly falls outside the exemption “under any construction.” Hunter, 550 N.W.2d at 465. “The fact that the statute may be vague as applied to other factual scenarios is irrelevant to this analysis.” Id.; accord State v. Price, 237 N.W.2d 813, 817 (Iowa 1976).

It is also crucial to note that “ ‘[t]he degree of vagueness that the constitution tolerates — as well as the relative importance of fair notice and fair enforcement — depend in part on the nature of the enactment.’ ” Jim O. Inc., 587 N.W.2d at 478 (quoting Duncan, 414 N.W.2d at 96). Thus, a law that interferes with the exercise of a fundamental right would be examined more closely than one that does not. See id. At this point, we digress from a recitation of the applicable legal principles to identify the right at issue. Neither the defendant’s right to pursue higher education, his right to study the vices of society, nor his right to communicate his ideas with respect to such vices are at issue here. The conduct at issue here is the defendant’s right to possess child pornography. That “right” is not constitutionally protected. See Osborne v. Ohio, 495 U.S. 103, 111, 110 S.Ct. 1691, 1697, 109 L.Ed.2d 98, 110 (1990) (holding that the state “may constitutionally proscribe the possession and viewing of child pornography”); New York v. Ferber, 458 U.S. 747, 761, 102 S.Ct. 3348, 3357, 73 L.Ed.2d 1113, 1125 (1982) (rejecting, with respect to child pornography, standard that would require the material to have no “serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value,” noting that “[i]t is irrelevant to the child [who has been abused] whether or not the material ... has a literary, artistic, political, or social value”); Ferber, 458 U.S. at 774, 102 S.Ct. at 3364, 73 L.Ed.2d at 1134 (O’Connor, J., concurring) (noting that majority opinion does not require the state to permit the possession of child pornography that has “serious literary, scientific, or educational value”).

In considering the vagueness of a statutory term, we apply the following rule:

A statutory term provides fair warning if the meaning of the word “is [to be] fairly ascertainable by reference to similar statutes, prior judicial determinations, reference to the dictionary, or if the questioned words have a common and generally accepted meaning.”

Hunter, 550 N.W.2d at 465 (quoting State v. Kueny, 215 N.W.2d 215, 217 (Iowa 1974)). An evaluation of the vagueness of a statute also requires that the statute be considered in the context of the entire statutory scheme of which it is a part. See Saadiq v. State, 387 N.W.2d 315, 321 (Iowa 1986).

E. Analysis of vagueness claim. We think that the defendant’s vague-as-applied challenge fails because the statutory exemption does not apply to him “under any construction.” To demonstrate the validity of this conclusion, we begin with an examination of the exemption and its statutory history.

Section 728.7 was first enacted in 1974 as part of an act “relating to the dissemination and exhibition of obscene material to minors and lascivious acts with certain minors.” 1974 Iowa Acts ch. 1267. This “obscenity and indecency” statute, codified at Iowa Code chapter 725 (1975) and later transferred to its current location in chapter 728, was directed at two types of criminal conduct. First, the statute prohibited the dissemination or exhibition of obscene materials to minors, and the admission of minors to premises where obscene material is exhibited. See 1974 Iowa Acts ch. 1267, §§ 2, 3 (codified at Iowa Code §§ 725.2, .3 (1975) and later transferred to Iowa Code §§ 728.2, .3). In addition, the act made it a crime to perform lascivious acts with minors under the age of sixteen. See 1974 Iowa Acts ch. 1267, § 10 (codified at Iowa Code. § 725.10 (1975) and later transferred to Iowa Code § 728.10). The exemption adopted in 1974, which is identical in all pertinent respects to the exemption at issue here, clearly was intended to apply to the first category of prohibited conduct: the dissemination or exhibition of obscene materials to minors, including the mere admission of minors to premises where obscene material is displayed.

Nothing in this Act prohibits the use of appropriate material for educational purposes in any accredited school, or any public library, or in any educational program in which the minor is participating. Nothing in this Act prohibits the attendance of minors at an exhibition or display of art works or the use of any materials in any public library.

1974 Iowa Acts ch. 1267, § 5 (emphasis added) (codified at Iowa Code § 725.5 (1975)). The only difference in the current exemption is that the word “Act” has been changed to “chapter.”

To understand the statutory scheme as it was originally designed, it is also helpful to review the statutory definition of “obscene material”:

“Obscene material” is any material depicting or describing the genitals, sex acts, masturbation, excretory functions or sado-masochistic abuse which the average person, taking the material as a whole and applying contemporary community standards with respect to what is suitable material for minors, would find appeals to the prurient interest and is patently offensive; and the material, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, scientific, political or artistic value.

1974 Iowa Acts ch. 1267, § 1 (emphasis added) (codified at Iowa Code § 725.1(1) (1975) and later transferred to Iowa Code § 728.1(1)). It is important to note that the original obscenity statute did not prohibit the dissemination, possession, or display of obscene material in general, but only with respect to minors. In other words, so long as minors were not involved, the dissemination, possession, or display of obscene materials was not prohibited. This fact is not surprising when one remembers that, under the statutory definition of “obscene material,” material is classified as obscene because it is unsuitable for minors.

The legislature apparently found the prohibitions in chapter 728 to be inadequate regulation in this area because two provisions focused on hard-core pornography and child pornography were subsequently added to the obscenity chapter. In 1976, the general assembly enacted a statute prohibiting the sale of “patently offensive” materials, which are more particularly described in the statute and are commonly known as “hard-core pornography.” See 1976 Iowa Acts ch. 1245, § 2804 (codified at Iowa Code § 728.4 (1979)). Unlike the statutes governing “obscene material,” which focused on keeping such materials out of the hands of minors, the hard-core pornography statute applied to the sale of such materials to any person, minor or adult. See John L. Yeager & Ronald L. Carlson, Criminal Law and Procedure § 633, at 158 (1979) [hereinafter “Yeager”].

Of particular relevance to the present discussion is the second section added by the legislature, which pertains to child pornography. In 1978, the legislature enacted a statute prohibiting the sexual exploitation of a minor by causing the minor to engage in a prohibited sexual act intending that the act be photographed or filmed. 1978 Iowa Acts ch. 1188, § 1 (codified at Iowa Code § 728.12(1) (1979)). The crime of sexual exploitation of a minor was expanded in 1983 by the addition of a subsection that prohibited the promotion of “any material depicting a live performance of a child engaged in a prohibited sexual act.” 1983 Iowa Acts ch. 167, § 4 (codified at Iowa Code § 728.12(2) (Supp.1983)). The crime of sexual exploitation of a minor was expanded a second time in 1986 to add a third alternative prohibiting the purchase of a print or visual medium “depicting a child engaging in a prohibited sexual act.” 1986 Iowa Acts ch. 1176, § 3 (codified at Iowa Code § 728.12(3) (1987)). The final expansion of section 728.12 occurred in 1989 when the general assembly amended the third alternative to prohibit not only the purchase of child pornography, but also the mere possession of child pornography, the crime of which the defendant was convicted. See 1989 Iowa Acts ch. 263, § 3 (codified at Iowa Code § 728.12(3) (Supp. 1989)). We also note that the legislature enacted an exception applicable solely to section 728.12(3): “this section does not apply to law enforcement officers, court personnel, licensed physicians, licensed psychologists, or attorneys in the performance of their official duties.” Id. (emphasis added) (codified at Iowa Code § 728.12(3) (Supp.1983)).

An examination of section 728.12 reveals that it differs in two material respects from the original obscenity law prohibiting the dissemination or exhibition of obscene materials to minors. See generally State v. Gilmour, 522 N.W.2d 595, 598 (Iowa 1994) (holding that “the offenses of dissemination and exhibition of obscene material to minors under section 728.2 and sexual exploitation of a minor under section 728.12(1) are markedly different with respect to the nature of the criminal activity”). First of all, the crime of sexual exploitation is aimed at the creation, dissemination, and possession of child pornography, rather than merely obscene materials. Obscene materials, as defined in chapter 728, are regulated on the basis that they are unsuitable for minors. Child pornography, on the other hand, is regulated because its mere creation is harmful to children in that it exploits children in undesirable and perverse ways. The crime of sexual exploitation differs from the regulation of obscene material in an even more important aspect: the prohibitions relating to child pornography apply to everyone, not just minors. In other words, the legislature has made child pornography illegal in its entirety; child pornography is, in essence, contraband.

With this context in mind, we now examine whether under any reasonable construction of the educational exemption a person of ordinary intelligence could believe that the exemption permits the possession of child pornography contrary not only to the express prohibition of section 728.12(3), but also in conflict with the self-contained enumerated exceptions to section 728.12(3) and the obvious legislative intent to completely eliminate child pornography from the state.

Preliminarily, we note that the educational exemption protects only the “use” of appropriate material, i.e., the employment of the material in some activity. See Webster’s Third New International Dictionary 2523 (unabr. ed.1993) (defining “use” as “employment”). It does not specifically authorize the possession of appropriate material. Thus, the exemption presupposes lawful possession. Although chapter 728 does not prohibit the possession of “obscene material,” it does prohibit the possession of child pornography. Therefore, it would be inconsistent to construe the exemption as authorizing the use of contraband — material that one cannot lawfully possess.

There is another defect in the defendant’s argument that the exemption could reasonably be understood to apply to him. As the defendant acknowledges in his brief, this exemption was intended by the legislature to provide some leeway to libraries and educational institutions that would otherwise have to determine whether material in their legitimate possession was, nonetheless, obscene and not viewable by minors. Absent the exemption, these entities would have to decide whether the materials were “suitable” for minors and had “serious literary, scientific, political or artistic value” in order to decide whether such materials could be made available to minors. See Iowa Code § 728.1(1) (defining “obscene material”). As one authority has observed, “this exception does have the effect of relieving school personnel, public libraries, and museum curators of the burden of justifying each bit of material which may be used or displayed by them.” Yeager § 636, at 158.

The purpose of this exemption is simply inapplicable to child pornography. Child pornography is contraband regardless of whether it has any “serious literary, scientific, political or artistic value.” See Ferber, 458 U.S. at 761, 102 S.Ct. at 3357, 73 L.Ed.2d at 1125; id. at 774, 102 S.Ct. at 3364, 73 L.Ed.2d at 1134 (O’Connor, J., concurring). Child pornography is contraband in anyone’s hands, minor or adult. Therefore, libraries and educational institutions have no occasion to determine whether child pornography is suitable for minors or has “serious literary, scientific, political or artistic value.” Accordingly, there is no need for an exemption in this area, as there is in the case of obscene material, where such determinations must necessarily be made.

Ignoring for the moment these fundamental flaws in the defendant’s contention that the exemption applies to him, we turn now to a consideration of whether the phrase “appropriate material” is reasonably susceptible to a construction that includes child pornography. We think it is not. The dictionary definition of the word “appropriate” is “specially suitable : FIT, PROPER.” Webster’s Third New International Dictionary 106 (unabr. ed.1993). Whatever doubts there may be about what constitutes “appropriate material” under other facts, we think there is no doubt that child pornography does not fit within the definition of “appropriate.”

It is important to keep in mind that the material at issue here is not merely “obscene material,” as defined in the statute. At issue are depictions of

1. children engaged in sexual contact, actual or simulated, by “penetration of the penis into the vagina or anus; contact between the mouth and genitalia or by contact between the genitalia of one person and the genitalia or anus of another person; contact between the finger or hand of one person and the genitalia or anus of another person,” Iowa Code § 702.17 (defining “sex act”),
2. children engaged in an act of bestiality, see id. § 728.1(6)(6),
3. children having their pubes or genitals fondled or touched, see id. § 728.1(6)(c),
4. children fondling or touching the pubes or genitals of another person, see id. § 728.1(6)(d),
5. children being subjected to “[s]ado-masochistic abuse ... for the purpose of arousing or satisfying the sexual desires of a person who may view a depiction of the abuse,” id. § 728.1(6)(e),
6. children subjecting another person to “[sjadomasochistic abuse ... for the purpose of arousing or satisfying the sexual desires of a person who may view a depiction of the ábuse,” id. § 728.1(6)(/), and
7. children nude “for the purpose of arousing or satisfying the sexual desires of a person who may view a depiction of the nude minor,” id. § 728.1(6)(#).

See id. § 728.12(l)-(3) (prohibiting the production, promotion, purchase, and possession of depictions of a minor engaging in “a prohibited sexual act” as defined in section 728.1(6)). We conclude that under no construction of the statute would a reasonably intelligent person believe that such material, showing children engaged in sexual acts, is “appropriate.” Unlike obscene material, which adults can legally possess, the possession of child pornography, as well as its production and promotion, are absolutely prohibited. See generally Yeager §§ 633, 641, at 158,160. It is clear from a reading of chapter 728 that the legislature sought to entirely eradicate child pornography from this state. See Osborne, 495 U.S. at 109, 110 S.Ct. at 1696, 109 L.Ed.2d at 109 (noting that Ohio statute prohibiting production, distribution, and possession of child pornography was designed “to destroy a market for the exploitative use of children”).

Given this statutory scheme, it would be unreasonable to believe that child pornography would ever be appropriate or suitable, even in an educational or literary environment. See generally Freeman v. Commonwealth, 223 Va. 301, 288 S.E.2d 461, 465 (1982) (noting, in considering constitutional vagueness challenge to similar statute, that “the paramount legislative goal was to protect children from the harm they suffer when they are induced to become models for such materials, respective of the motive or intent of the offended’ (emphasis added)). As the United States Supreme Court noted in Ferber, if “visual depictions of children performing sexual acts or lewdly exhibiting their genitals [is] an important and necessary part of a[n] ... educational work,” options other than using depictions of actual children are available. 458 U.S. at 763, 102 S.Ct. at 3358, 73 L.Ed.2d at 1126. These alternatives included using “a person over the statutory age who perhaps looked younger,” or other “[simulation outside of the prohibition of the [child pornography] statute.” Id.

Our reasoning that the statutory exemption is not vague as applied to the defendant can perhaps best be summarized as follows: If it is illegal and correspondingly inappropriate to produce child pornography, and is illegal/inappropriate to distribute child pornography, and is illegal/inappropriate to purchase child pornography, and is illegal/inappropriate to possess child pornography, how is it reasonable to construe section 728.7 as evidencing the legislature’s intent that it is, nonetheless, legal and appropriate to use child pornography? Such a construction is directly contrary to the legislature’s goal to eliminate any market for such material. We hold that the defendant’s conduct clearly falls outside the parameters of the statutory exemption.

We have not ignored the defendant’s assertion that an interpretation of the exemption to exclude child pornography renders the exemption meaningless; we simply do not agree with this conclusion. Even though the exemption does not protect the possession of child pornography, it continues to encompass obscene materials falling outside the scope of section 728.12, provided the requirements of the exemption are otherwise met. Whether the term “appropriate materials” may be vague with respect to the scope of protection provided for the possession of obscene materials is not relevant to our analysis. See Hunter, 550 N.W.2d at 465 (noting that “[t]he fact that the statute may be vague as applied to other factual scenarios is irrelevant” (emphasis added)). We simply hold that the statutory exemption is not vague as applied to the defendant, who was charged with the possession of child pornography.

In summary, the defendant has failed to sustain his burden to show that section 728.7 “clearly, palpably and without doubt infringes the constitution.” See American Dog Owners Ass’n, 469 N.W.2d at 417. We are simply not convinced “beyond a reasonable doubt” that he has demonstrated the unconstitutional vagueness of the statute. See Duncan, 414 N.W.2d at 95. For these reasons, we reject the defendant’s claim that section 728.7 is vague as applied to him.

III. Disposition.

The defendant also asserts that his trial counsel was ineffective in allowing him to waive his First Amendment challenge to the statute by pleading guilty. Both the defendant and the State ask that we preserve this claim for a possible post-conviction relief action. Therefore, we affirm the defendant’s conviction, but preserve his ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim.

AFFIRMED.

All justices concur except CARTER, J. and McGIVERIN, C.J., who concur specially, and SNELL, J., who dissents.

CARTER, Justice

(concurring specially).

I agree that the defendant’s conviction should be affirmed. His guilty plea waived any contention that the statute is vague as applied. I do not believe that we may only apply this legal conclusion in a prospective manner. Consequently, I would not reach the constitutional challenge to the statute as applied to defendant. On the merits of that issue, I agree that the statute is not vague, as applied, but I disagree with the suggestion that the words “appropriate material” for educational or library use may never under any circumstances include visual depictions of children that might be described as child pornography.

McGIVERIN, C.J., joins this special concurrence.

SNELL, Justice

(dissenting).

I respectfully dissent.

The majority has reached its result by invading the domain of the legislature which, under our structure of government, is given the sole responsibility to create the law. In so doing, it has violated the separation of powers doctrine and concomitantly inverted our cardinal rule of statutory construction. See State v. Wagner, 596 N.W.2d 83, 89 (Iowa 1999). That rule directs us to look first to the words of the statute to determine if its meaning is ambiguous. Iowa Comprehensive Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Fund Bd. v. Mobil Oil Corp., 606 N.W.2d 359, 363 (Iowa 2000). If it is, only then may the court resort, for help in finding its meaning, to legislative history. State v. Rodgers, 560 N.W.2d 585, 586 (Iowa 1997).

Instead of following this procedure of ageless acceptance, the majority has begun its analysis by charting the legislative history of the obscenity statutes. See, e.g., Iowa Comprehensive Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Fund Bd., 606 N.W.2d at 379-80; State v. Burke, 368 N.W.2d 182, 185 (Iowa 1985); Iowa-Illinois Gas & Elec. Co. v. City of Bettendorf, 241 Iowa 358, 361-62, 41 N.W.2d 1, 3-4 (1950); Smith v. Sioux City Stock Yards Co., 219 Iowa 1142, 1148, 260 N.W. 531, 534 (1935); Slaats v. Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Ry., 149 Iowa 735, 743, 129 N.W. 63, 66 (1910). From this it concludes that, although there are no statutory words that say so, the legislature must have intended to eliminate all exemptions for the use of appropriate material for educational purposes that have child pornography as its subject matter. This con-elusion forms the predicate for the majority’s deduction that the exemption statute, Iowa Code section 728.7, is not ambiguous and as such presents no constitutional problem based on vagueness. The majority also decides that the exemption statute is a nullity and cannot apply to any case involving child pornography because the history of obscenity statutes passed by the legislature shows legislative intent to so act.

I dissent because the majority has strayed from our charge as a separate branch of government and from our traditional track of analysis in statutory construction cases. In following its course of analysis, the majority has backed into its result. Its conclusion that the exemption statute is not ambiguous and a nullity because of the legislative history of other statutes left nothing to construe. The statutory construction doctrine was left in its wake.

I believe the plain meaning of the words in the exemption statute, rather than legislative history, dictates the result in this case. If a statute is not ambiguous, this court need not look any further. It is improper to use legislative history of other statutes to come to a conclusion that a statute is not ambiguous. Iowa Comprehensive Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Fund Bd., 606 N.W.2d at 865; State v. McSorley, 549 N.W.2d 807, 809 (Iowa 1996).

I. Nothing Means Nothing

The language of the exemption is very clear. Iowa Code § 728.7 (1999). The exemption reads:

Nothing in this chapter prohibits the use of appropriate material for educational purposes in any accredited school, or any public library, or in any educational program in which the minor is participating. Nothing in this chapter prohibits the attendance of minors at an exhibition or display of art works or the use of any materials in any public library.

Id. “Nothing in this chapter” states an absolute. See id. (emphasis added). The legislature did not say that some things applied or that only specific sections would fall under the exemption. The language evidences an intent to apply every listed crime in chapter 728 to the exemption for educational purposes.

The legislature added the crime of child pornography to chapter 728 in the same year the final version of the exemption became effective. 1978 Iowa Acts ch. 1188, § 1 (codifying the prohibition of child pornography at Iowa Code section 728.12); 1976 Iowa Acts ch. 1245, § 2806 (effective Jan. 1, 1978) (amending the exemption at Iowa Code section 728.7, originally enacted at Iowa Code section 725.5 (1974)). The version of the exemption, as it still reads today, linked its application to the entire chapter by adding the word “chapter” to its language. 1976 Iowa Acts ch. 1245 § 2806. The closeness in time between the final amendment of the exemption extending its reach to the entire chapter and the child pornography statute suggests that the legislature did not inadvertently commingle the two in the same chapter. The exemption continued to be applicable to all legislation within the chapter.

The legislature had every opportunity to (1) create a new chapter for child pornography so that it would not fall under the exemption, (2) place language in section 728.12 stating the exemption did not apply to it, or (3) amend the exemption to preclude its application to section 728.12. The legislature did none of these things. In fact, the two sections have coexisted together in the same chapter for twenty-two years and neither has been amended to exclude the other. Moreover, it is clear that the legislature knew how to limit its exemptions under this chapter. The obscenity provisions used to be located within chapter 592. See Iowa Code §§ 13183-13197 (1939). An exemption for druggists and doctors was contained in chapter 592 during this period. Id. § 13195. This exemption specifically limited its scope to certain sections within the chapter. See id. No such exclusive language exists in section 728.7. Further, when the legislature enacted the predecessor to section 728.7 in 1974, it specifically applied the exemption for educational purposes to section 725.10 titled “Lascivious acts with persons under the age of sixteen years.” Iowa Code § 725.5 (1975). This suggests the legislature recognized that even this prohibited act with a minor could be exempted in an educational setting.

While I recognize that child pornography is the most deleterious of all obscenity, I cannot ignore the plain meaning of the exemption. The court cannot do the job of the legislature and impose restrictions on the scope of a statute which do not exist. Iowa Comprehensive Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Fund Bd., 606 N.W.2d at 879 (“We determine the intent from what the legislature said, not from what it might or should have said.”). As it is written, child pornography is included in the exemption. If child pornography was not meant to fall within the exemption, that is for the legislature to decide by amending the statutory exemption. Moulton v. Iowa Employment Sec. Comm’n, 239 Iowa 1161, 1172, 34 N.W.2d 211, 216 (1948) (“The court is not at liberty to read into the statute provisions which the legislature did not see fit to incorporate, nor may it enlarge the scope of its provisions by an unwarranted interpretation of the language used.” (quotations and citation omitted)).

Such judicial legislating is expressly prohibited by the separation of powers doctrine. Webster County Bd. of Supervisors v. Flattery, 268 N.W.2d 869, 872-74 (Iowa 1978); Jahnke v. Inc. City of Des Moines, 191 N.W.2d 780, 797 (Iowa 1971) (Reynold-son, J., dissenting). “To subject [a] clearly worded statute to interpretation would usurp the prerogatives of the legislature. ... This would effectively deprive the legislature of its power to create and declare [the law].” Burke, 368 N.W.2d at 185. One legal authority has noted: “[T]he enumeration of exceptions from the operation of a statute indicates that it should apply to all cases not specifically excepted.” 2 Jabez Gridley Sutherland, Statutes & Statutory Construction § 4916 (3d ed. 1943 & Supp.1971). In other words:

We are not justified in erecting a bar where the legislature did not so provide. The express mention of the one thing implies the exclusion of the other. This rule is expressed in the often quoted Latin phrase “expressio unius est exclu-sio alterius.” We have said: The legislative intent is expressed by omission as well as by inclusion.

North Iowa Steel Co. v. Staley, 253 Iowa 355, 357, 112 N.W.2d 364, 365 (1961).

The court cannot impose restrictions on a statute which do not exist. “For us to fashion such a rule would simply constitute judicial legislation.” Bruns v. State, 503 N.W.2d 607, 612 (Iowa 1993). “A contrary holding would simply be judicial legislation in the guise of judicial interpretation.” Slager v. HWA Corp., 435 N.W.2d 349, 357 (Iowa 1989). To exclude child pornography from the exemption, as the majority has done, evidenced “more than a modest amount of judicial legislation.” See Shell Oil Co. v. Bair, 417 N.W.2d 425, 429 (Iowa 1987). The majority effectively rewrote the statute.

In another statutory interpretation case, the appellant sought to limit the statute in question to apply only to particular areas. Klaes v. Scholl, 412 N.W.2d 178, 179 (Iowa 1987) (interpreting Iowa Code § 686.15 (1987)). That is what the State is asking us to do here. In Klaes, we appropriately held: “In view of the clear language of the statute, however, interpreting [the section] to limit [what it applies to] would be tantamount to judicial legislation, and we decline to do so.” Id.

In response to an attempt to expand a statute to include certain areas not listed, this court held:

It may be conceded that the legislature, if it saw fit to do so, might make such a provision. As the law stands, however, no such provision has been made by the legislature, and it is not the province of the court to enact such a provision by what is sometimes referred to as judicial legislation.

Graves v. Eagle Iron Works, 331 N.W.2d 116, 118 (Iowa 1983). That same analysis applies here where the majority limits the exemption statute to what it thinks the statute ought to be limited to. To create an exception to the exemption effectively usurps “the prerogative of the legislature to declare what the law shall be.” State ex rel. Lankford v. Mundie, 508 N.W.2d 462, 463 (Iowa 1993).

The Iowa Constitution expressly separates the judiciary from the other two branches of government. “The powers of the government of Iowa shall be divided into three separate departments- — the legislative, executive, and the judicial: and no person charged with the exercise of powers properly belonging to one of these departments shall exercise any function appertaining to either of the others....” Iowa Const, art. Ill, § 1. We have previously recognized that “[e]ach department must remain independent if the constitutional safeguards are to be maintained. For the judiciary to play an undiminished role as an independent and equal coordinate branch” it must not encroach upon the authority of the other departments. Flattery, 268 N.W.2d at 873.

It is not within the power of the judiciary to create exceptions to an unambiguous statute which do not exist in the plain language. The province of the judiciary is to construe statutory law, not to make law not passed by the legislature. “[W]hat is desirable or advisable or ought to be is a question of policy, not a question of fact. What is necessary or what is in the best interest is not a fact and its determination by the judiciary is an exercise of legislative power.” Warren County v. Judges of the Fifth Judicial Dist., 243 N.W.2d 894, 903 (Iowa 1976) (quotations and citation omitted); see Iowa Comprehensive Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Fund Bd., 606 N.W.2d at 379.

II. The Only Material in Need of the Exemption Is Child Pornography

“Nothing in this chapter prohibits the use of appropriate material for educational purposes in any accredited school....” Iowa Code § 728.7 (emphasis added). Section 728.12(3) states that it is illegal for a person to knowingly possess child pornography. By contrast, the use of obscene materials is not similarly prohibited. A person is only guilty of a criminal act in regard to obscene materials when he has the intent to “knowingly rent[ ], sell[ ], or offer for rental or sale material depicting patently offensive representations.... ” Id. § 728.4.

In State v. Schrup, we held that a defendant could not be charged with the mere possession of obscene materials without also having the intent to distribute them. State v. Schrup, 229 Iowa 909, 911, 295 N.W. 427, 428 (1940). The court determined:

The legislature was not concerned by the mere possession of obscene pictures. The purpose of the act is to guard the public morals, to discourage the dissemination of the pictures which tend to corrupt and debauch the morals of those minds [that] are susceptible to such lecherous influences. Hence, the requirement that to constitute a crime, the possession must be with the intent to sell, loan or give away the obscene pictures.

Id. at 910-11, 295 N.W. at 428 (discussing Iowa Code section 13190 which was an earlier counterpart of section 728.4).

Use of obscene materials by a student in a college class for a report is not consistent with the intent to sell, rent, or loan the material. As such, this student could not be guilty for merely possessing obscene materials without the required intent. For this reason, the student would not need the protection of the first sentence of the exemption in section ,728.7 which exempts from the commission of a criminal act, “the use of appropriate material for educational purposes.” Similarly, a professor using the material to teach the class does not have the intent to sell, rent, or loan the material and this teacher would also not need the aid of the exemption.

If the first sentence of the exemption is not necessary for obscene materials, what other purpose could it have under chapter 728? The obvious reason behind the first sentence of the exemption, “[n]othing in this chapter prohibits the use of appropriate material for educational purposes in any accredited school,” is to exempt child pornography in this limited area. Under the majority’s conclusion that all child pornography is never appropriate what is the point of this first sentence? The majority opinion gives the first sentence of section 728.7 absolutely no meaning because it would not exempt anything under chapter 728.

III. The Meaning of “Appropriate”

This court has recognized that “we ... seek a reasonable interpretation and construction which will best effect the purpose of the statute, seeking to avoid absurd results.” State v. Link, 341 N.W.2d 738, 740 (Iowa 1983) (citations omitted). I find that applying child pornography to the exemption does not create an absurd result for the following reasons.

The majority concludes that because child pornography is always inappropriate, “appropriate material” is not an ambiguous term. The majority looks at “appropriate material” by viewing the nature of the material itself. The exemption should actually be read to define appropriate by its use rather than its nature. The conclusion should follow then that any material used for actual educational purposes will be appropriate. In other words, any material in chapter 728 will be appropriate if it is used for a bona fide educational purpose. The nature of the material is irrelevant because the exemption states that no provision will prohibit the use of such materials in an educational setting.

The majority’s opinion is wrong because it interprets the exemption in direct opposition to its plain meaning. Effectively the majority rewrites the exemption to state: “Nothing in this chapter, excluding child pornography .... ” There is no basis for this radical departure from the plain words of the exemption. The court merely states it knows the exemption does not apply to child pornography. Further, section 728.12(3) makes it a crime to depict child pornography with any visual medium. A depiction is not just a picture, it includes the written word as well. The American Heritage Dictionary defines depict as: “1. To represent in a picture or sculpture. 2. To represent in words; describe.” The American Heritage Dictionary 383 (2d ed.1985). As such, this holding is expansively broad, possibly making criminal a professor’s use of any materials, the printed word or pictures, to discuss child pornography and studies done about it. Likewise, because section 728.12(3) applies to a “book, magazine, or other print or visual medium,” the majority’s holding will criminalize a student’s use of any material to write a research paper which explores the effect child pornography has on society.

The majority’s decision has broken the barrier between judging and legislating. This is ill advised, contrary to established law and a hauntingly bad precedent.

I would vacate Robinson’s guilty plea,„ reverse Robinson’s conviction, and remand for dismissal of the charges.

      . Even if error had been preserved on a facial vagueness claim, the defendant's standing to assert such a claim is highly questionable. If a statute is constitutional as applied to a defendant, the defendant cannot make a facial challenge unless a recognized exception to the standing requirement applies. See Hunter, 550 N.W.2d at 463. One such exception is a situation in which First Amendment rights are implicated because the statute reaches a substantial amount of protected speech. See id. The expression at issue here, however— obscenity and child pornography — does not implicate First Amendment rights. See New York v. Ferber, 458 U.S. 747, 764, 102 S.Ct. 3348, 3358, 73 L.Ed.2d 1113, 1127 (1982) (“When a definable class of material ... bears so heavily and pervasively on the welfare of children engaged in its production, we think the balance of competing interests is clearly struck and that it is permissible to consider these materials [child pornography] as without the protection of the First Amendment.”); Roth v. United States, 354 U.S. 476, 485, 77 S.Ct. 1304, 1309, 1 L.Ed.2d 1498, 1507 (1957) (holding that “obscenity is not within the area of constitutionally protected speech or press”); see also Hunter, 550 N.W.2d at 466-67 (holding that regulation of child pornography does not reach a substantial amount of protected expression so as to confer standing on a defendant to challenge section 728.1(6)(g) as unconstitutionally vague on its face).

      . On appeal, the defendant has expanded his vagueness challenge to include an argument that the exemption is vague with respect "to the scope of the permitted use.” He argues:
      As relevant here, the statute permits the material to be used for "educational purposes in any accredited school.” The dis-positive question here is whether a reasonable person could read this language to mean that the material could be personally possessed outside school for purposes of a paper or project to be used in school.
      In response, the- State asserts that the exemption applies only to educators. Having reviewed the defendant's pre-trial motion, wherein he alleges a vague-as-applied challenge, and the transcript of the hearing on his motion, we are unable to find any record of the defendant alerting the district court to the claim now being made on appeal. Indeed, the only argument addressed by the district court in its ruling on the defendant’s vagueness claim was the defendant's assertion that the phrase "appropriate material” was unconstitutionally vague. Under these circumstances, the defendant has waived any argument that the language "educational purposes in any accredited school” is vague as applied to him. See McCright, 569 N.W.2d at 607; Eames, 565 N.W.2d at 326. Even if this issue had been preserved, it would not alter the outcome here, because we hold that under no reasonable construction of the statute would a person of ordinary intelligence conclude that the legislature intended to permit the use of child pornography, inside or outside school.

      . This amendment also changed all references to ''child” in section 728.12 to ''minor.” See 1989 Iowa Acts ch. 263, § 3.