NACDL - Tucker v. State of Idaho

Tucker v. State of Idaho

Brief of Amici Curiae National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Idaho Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in Support of Plaintiffs-Appellants.

Tucker v. State of Idaho

Brief Details

Case No.: 46882-2019
Brief Filed: March 12, 2020
Jurisdiction: Supreme Court of the State of Idaho

Key Topics in the Brief

Public Defense | Right to Counsel | Systemic Deficiencies | Harm to Defendants

Briefs

Tucker-v-Idaho-Brief.pdf

Prior Decision

Decision below Case No. CV-OC-2015-10240 (Ada County District Court)

Argument(s)

Plaintiffs allege systemic deficiencies in Idaho’s provision of public defense services and seek prospective relief. The court is addressing the proper standard to apply to plaintiffs’ claims. Plaintiffs should be required to demonstrate that Idaho’s public defense system presents a substantial risk of harm to members of the plaintiff class. The types of harm that can result from the systemic deficiencies alleged by plaintiffs include overly high bail, unnecessary or overlong pretrial detention, unwarranted guilty pleas leading to negative collateral consequences, lack of time and resources to prepare defenses, wrongful convictions, and economic and social costs to society as a whole.