Idaho State Public Defense Commission

08/30/2018

Carter will be missed in Idaho, but congratulations to Mark for being selected for this important position in Gem County!!!

At the end of August a change is coming at the Gem County Public Defenders Office. Carter Winters is turning over the position of lead Public Defender for the county

08/28/2018

07/31/2018

We're looking for people to serve as Mock Jurors at Concordia Law School in Boise on August 9th, from 2-5pm. Comment if you're interested!!!

05/09/2018

We’d like to recognize our brilliant staff on this State Employee Appreciation Day! They work hard and make the office a fun place to be.
Nichole Devaney
Brianne Harrison McCoy
Jared H. Ricks
Kay Jay Jennings
Aaron Freudenthal

01/31/2018

Minutes after returning from our legislative budget hearing this morning, this article came across my desk.

During the budget hearing this morning for the Idaho Public Defense Commission, Executive Director Kimberly Simmons told lawmakers that 43 of Idaho’s 44 counties applied for and received grants to boost their public defense efforts; training has been provided; standards have been promulgated, more...

01/19/2018

Texas has an interesting structure for defending prison inmates accused of crimes.
"Our budget is controlled by an agency with goals diametrically opposed to our own,” wrote one lawyer who responded to the survey. “Our advocacy dies the death of a thousand budgetary cuts and fiscal considerations.” Another wrote, “SCFO leadership bends to the will of TDCJ and doesn’t want to rock the boat.”

https://www.texasobserver.org/new-report-finds-surprise-indigent-defense-attorneys-shouldnt-be-under-the-control-of-the-state-prison-system/

01/18/2018

An interesting decision out of Minnesota:
"You’re not protected by the Fifth Amendment’s right against self-incrimination when a judge orders you to use your fingerprint to unlock your cellphone, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Wednesday."

https://blogs.mprnews.org/newscut/2018/01/mn-supreme-court-ok-to-demand-suspects-fingerprint-to-unlock-phone/

01/03/2018

New bail system in Alaska:

Find the latest news, crime, weather, business and community information from juneauempire.com and the Juneau Empire.

12/01/2017

The Fourth Amendment "case of the century:" Carpenter v. U.S.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/11/bipartisanship-supreme-court/547124/

11/30/2017

Interesting story from North Carolina regarding the waiving of court fees:

North Carolina’s plan to stymie judges who waive fines and fees.

10/31/2017

How much money does an indigent defendant get to investigate his case? Ayestas v. Davis, argued yesterday, will address this issue.

Attorneys for convicted killer say they need more money for evidence that may persuade a jury to withhold death penalty.