Idaho minister found guilty of trespassing at a protest of anti-trans bills to serve no jail time

An Idaho judge on Thursday ordered a Boise minister who was found guilty of misdemeanor trespass during a political protest to pay $357 in fines — but not serve more jail time. 

The Rev. Sara LaWall, the minister for the Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, and eight others who were protesting bills restricting transgender rights were arrested this spring after refusing to leave the lobby to the office of Idaho Gov. Brad Little, whom the protestors said they were hoping to meet with. LaWall’s defense attorney cast her actions during the protest as an act of civil disobedience, an act that involves intentionally breaking laws for moral reasons. 

In a statement before the judge delivered his sentence, LaWall, who has a transgender daughter, said she had repeatedly attempted to relay her concerns over anti-trans bills with elected officials. 

“We followed every available path of redress (grievenances) within our system. Our fears and concerns, and frankly, our begging and pleading, went unheard and unanswered,” LaWall said, citing legislators cutting off testimony early on an anti-trans bill where doctors planned to testify.

She said she understands her actions have consequences, and she said she accepts full responsibility for her actions.

“I do not take this lightly,” LaWall said. “I knew the risks when I chose to stay. But I was willing then and am willing now to accept the risks as an act of faithful witness and solidarity with my daughter, all the beautiful trans youth, and the incredible trans community here in Idaho. Many of whom I am blessed to call my friends and chosen family — all of whom must negotiate risk and their own safety every day, just by being who they are.”

Before issuing the sentence, Idaho 4th District Judge Adam Kimball said he was weighing several factors — such as protecting society and deterring LaWall and others from violating the law. But he said he didn’t find probation necessary in this case.

“It’s my hope that you will be heard the way you wish, and that if you are not, that you do not break the law to be heard. But I don’t find that placing you on probation is necessary to achieve that end,” the judge said.

“Your conduct, whatever it may have been, waiting for an appointment, a protest, was peaceful, was considerate,” he added.

The judge’s sentence for LaWall was for the state’s recommended minimum $500 in fines, plus $170 in court costs, which the judge tacked on after the case went to a jury trial and one day in jail for which he granted LaWall credit. The judge also granted LaWall credit toward her fees for her $300 cash bail. 

Why she was protesting in the Idaho governor’s office

Earlier this month, LaWall was found guilty by a jury of the misdemeanor trespassing charge after hearing testimony from three people and being presented body camera footage from the Idaho State Police trooper who warned her to leave several times before arresting her. 

At her trial, the minister waived her right to remain silent, but did not speak to why she was at the protest. The judge had said he had restricted trial testimony related to the reason for the protest.

Beginning around 2 p.m., the protest was staged for several hours in the lobby of the governor’s office late the day on April 1 after he signed into law the transgender bathroom ban. At the time, the governor was waiting to weigh in on a bill that requires teachers and doctors to out transgender minors to their parents, or face lawsuits. The governor later signed the bill.

That day, LaWall didn’t know that the governor had been escorted out of work at 3:30 p.m. out of public sight, according to LaWall’s defense attorney, Katelyn Enterkine. The Legislature was still meeting by 8 p.m. that day. The governor’s office could not be immediately reached for comment. 

LaWall has said the jail sentence she could have received for trespassing was less than the amount Idaho judges can dole out for violations of Idaho’s new criminal transgender bathroom ban, which allows for up to one year sentences on first offenses.

LaWall’s is the first of four trespassing cases headed to trial stemming from the protest, where nine protestors were arrested.