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Appellate public defender asks Legislature for deputy attorney to reduce costly contracts
Summary
The Idaho Office of the State Appellate Public Defender told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee it seeks funding for an additional deputy to handle non‑capital appeals, saying hiring would cost less than continuing to send overflow work to contract attorneys.
The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee heard on a budget presentation from the Office of the State Appellate Public Defender that the office is requesting funding for a deputy state appellate public defender who would take non‑capital felony, misdemeanor and juvenile appeals.
Christopher Lahoset, a budget analyst with the Legislative Services Office, told the committee that the office currently has 26 authorized full‑time positions and has been operating with few vacancies. Lahoset said that continuing to send overflow appellate cases to private firms costs the office an estimated $254,000 per year, while hiring a state attorney at about a $140,000 salary…
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