Our courts were never intended to serve as rubber stamps for landlords seeking to evict their tenants, but rather to see that justice be done before a man is evicted from his home. United States Supreme Court, Pernell v. Southall Realty, 416 U.S. 363, 385 (1974)

COVID-19 has left many families across Idaho out of work, wondering how they will pay the bills and make rent as 2020 wears on. Though the State halted most evictions during the month of April, evictions have surged back to above normal since this beginning of May.

Since Idaho adopted its Constitution in 1889, tenants have had the constitutional right to a trial by the jury of their peers before their landlord, with the help of an armed sheriff, may throw them out of their home. In this case, we co-counsel with Idaho Legal Aid Services to vindicate that consitutional right. The lawsuit against the State of Idaho asks the court to confirm the right to jury trial in evictions. "We have, after all, lived our whole national history with an understanding of the ancient adage that a man's house is his castle to the point that the poorest man may in his cottage bid defiance to all the forces of the Crown." Georgia v. Randolph, 547 U.S. 103, 115 (2006).

Facing eviction in Idaho? Contact the Idaho Legal Aid Services Housing Hotline at 208-746-7541 (10:00 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm Mountain Time, 9:00 am to 11:30 am and 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm Pacific Time)

Attorney(s)

Ritchie Eppink (ACLU of Idaho), Martin Hendrickson and Howard Belodoff (Idaho Legal Aid Services)

Date filed

June 8, 2020

Court

Idaho Fourth District Court

Judge

Michael Reardon

Status

Victory!

Case number

CV01-20-09078