Civil disobedience

Rev. Sara LaWall, minister of the Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, was sentenced by Idaho 4th District Judge Adam Kimball to $357 in fines and no additional jail time after being convicted of misdemeanor trespassing. LaWall was one of nine protestors arrested in April after refusing to leave the lobby of Gov. Brad Little's office, where they had hoped to speak with him about bills restricting transgender rights, including a transgender bathroom ban and a measure requiring schools to notify parents if a student identifies as transgender. Both bills were later signed into law.

LaWall, whose daughter is transgender, described her actions as civil disobedience after other efforts to influence lawmakers failed. A jury had found her guilty earlier this month based on body camera footage and testimony. The judge credited her for a day already served and her cash bail, saying her conduct during the protest was peaceful and that probation was unnecessary. Hers is the first of four related trespassing cases stemming from the protest to go to trial.