New State Public Defender office asks for supplements, dedicated fund authority after rapid caseload increase

BOISE — The newly formed State Public Defender told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee it needs one‑time and ongoing funding after a rapid rise in demand and gaps between initial fiscal assumptions and current case volumes.

Christopher Lahoset, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, said the office was created in “title 19 chapter 60 section 3 of Idaho Code” and that a dedicated State Public Defense Fund was established in Idaho Code section 57‑8207. Lahoset said the state controller was directed to transfer $39 million from the tax relief fund into the new dedicated fund, but that last year’s appropriation omitted authorization for $2.5 million in spending authority the agency now requests as a supplemental so it can fully use the transferred cash.

Lahoset outlined several requests. For the current fiscal year the agency requests a one‑time supplemental of $2.5 million to fully utilize the $39 million cash transfer; the governor also recommended a one‑time supplemental of $390,200 for transcript costs related to the Idaho Supreme Court decision in State v. Blasick (issued Dec. 5, 2024) that placed transcript costs on the state. The…