<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div><span></span></div><div><div>Courtesy of today's (April 30, 2016) Spokesman-Review.</div><div id="AppleMailSignature"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature">---------------------------------</div><div id="AppleMailSignature"> </div><div id="AppleMailSignature"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Chronicle Display A', 'Chronicle Display B', serif; font-size: 48px; font-weight: 600; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Feds seek to join suit against Idaho’s public defense system</span></div><div id="AppleMailSignature"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 17.6px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 17.6px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">BOISE – The U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney Wendy Olson are requesting to weigh in on a class-action lawsuit against Idaho’s public defense system. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 17.6px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The parties earlier this month filed a motion to join the lawsuit on behalf of the United States. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 17.6px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In January, an Idaho judge dismissed the American Civil Liberties Union’s lawsuit seeking to overhaul how the state provides legal representation for indigent defendants as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 17.6px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The ACLU is now appealing the case. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 17.6px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">According to court documents, federal officials argue that the U.S. has a strong interest in ensuring that all jurisdictions fulfill their constitutional obligation in providing legal representation to those who can’t afford it. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 17.6px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Idaho Legislature passed several reforms earlier this year, including allocating $5.5 million for establishing new standards and providing county grants.</span></p></div><div id="AppleMailSignature">---------------------------------<br><br><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" </span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div> </div></div></div></body></html>