Outside Firm To Get Grizzly Case

Wed., Dec. 13, 2000

In an unanimous decision Tuesday, a council designed to defend Idaho’s legal rights voted to hire an outside law firm to battle the federal government over its decision to reintroduce grizzly bears in the state.

“This could be a precedent-setting case,” L. Michael Bogert, counsel to Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, said. He added that the Constitutional Defense Fund Council - composed of the governor, Attorney General Al Lance, House Speaker Bruce Newcomb and Senate President pro tem Robert Geddes - wants its anti-grizzly legal team in place as soon as possible.

“We oppose the introduction of this flesheating, antisocial animal,” Kempthorne said. “This is probably the first federal policy that knowingly can and will lead to the death of citizens. We must do everything possible to make sure this does not happen.”

Last month, the federal Fish and Wildlife Service announced plans to release at least 25 grizzly bears into the Bitterroot Mountains along the Idaho-Montana border.

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Outside Firm To Get Grizzly Case

Jesse Tinsley

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