FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
| Date: | April 2, 2021 |
| Contact: | Emily Lowe Public Information Officer 208-287-7700 |
| RE: | State v. Ammon Bundy, Aaron von Schmidt |
BOISE – An Ada County Magistrate Judge ordered mediation today in the cases of Ammon Bundy (CR01-20-34189) and Aaron Von Schmidt (CR01-20-34187).
On July 30, 2020 the Idaho Supreme Court issued an Order requiring mediation in misdemeanor cases when ordered by the presiding Judge. The Order, In Re: Mediation of Misdemeanor Criminal Cases, suspended the portion of Idaho Criminal Rule 18.1, which made participation in mediation voluntary.
Although neither party requested mediation, the Idaho Supreme Court Order currently requires the parties to mediate in misdemeanor cases upon order of the presiding Judge. The Supreme Court Order includes language that the “parties must make reasonable efforts and exercise good faith during the mediation.” As such, neither the State nor defendants have valid grounds to object to the mediation.
Link to Idaho Supreme Court Order: https://isc.idaho.gov/EO/FINAL-Amended-Order-October-8-2020-In-Re-Mediation-Misdemeanor-Criminal-Cases.pdf
Link to Idaho Criminal Rule 18.1: https://isc.idaho.gov/icr18-1