Iowa Code § 822.7
The application shall be heard in, and before any judge of the court in which the conviction or sentence took place. However, if the applicant is seeking relief under section 822.2, subsection 1, paragraph "f", the application shall be heard in, and before any judge of the court of the county in which the applicant is being confined. A record of the proceedings shall be made and preserved. All rules and statutes applicable in civil proceedings including pretrial and discovery procedures are available to the parties. The court may receive proof of affidavits, depositions, oral testimony, or other evidence, and may order the applicant brought before it for the hearing. If the court finds in favor of the applicant, it shall enter an appropriate order with respect to the conviction or sentence in the former proceedings, and any supplementary orders as to re arraignment, retrial, custody, bail, discharge, correction of sentence, or other matters that may be necessary and proper. The court shall make specific findings of fact, and state expressly its conclusions of law, relating to each issue presented. This order is a final judgment.
Iowa Code § 822.7