Idaho’s legal bill to an outside law firm over the defunct Idaho Education Network now tops $1 million, even as the state argues in court over a judge’s order to pay nearly another $1 million for the attorney fees of the winning side in the lawsuit, Syringa Networks. Idaho Education News reporter Kevin Richert writes today that the latest tally from the state Department of Administration shows that the state’s own legal bills for the lawsuit have risen by more than $170,000 since March; law firm Hawley-Troxell has been representing the state.

The court ruled the $60 million contract for the statewide school broadband network illegal; Idaho’s also out millions in federal “e-rate” matching funds for the network, which were supposed to pay for three-quarters of its cost, but were suspended when legal issues surfaced over the contract. Richert’s full report is online here.