Justice No Place For Bargain Hunting

It’s simple math: Idaho isn’t willing to pay for all the laws it has on the books. So it can shell out more money or can take a pair of scissors to the long list of activities it considers illegal. But the days of having it both ways are coming to a close. Case in point: Idaho’s poverty row system of providing criminal defense attorneys to people who can’t afford them. In a state of low incomes and $10,000 legal retainers, that’s many, if not most, of us. It’s not a privilege. It’s a right. The U.S. Supreme Court said so in 1963. It looked at the Sixth and 14th amendments, and held the states responsible for providing public defenders. Somehow, Idaho pawned that job off on its 44 counties/Marty Trillhaase, Lewiston Tribune. More here .

Question: Are you concerned that Idaho does a poor job providing criminal defense attorneys for those who can’t afford to pay for them?