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GOP hasn't filed new lawsuit against schools

by CRAIG NORTHRUP
Staff Writer | November 29, 2020 1:00 AM

An attorney for the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee said he's crossing his t’s and dotting his i’s before filing a discrimination lawsuit against Coeur d’Alene School District in federal court.

The KCRCC originally filed the suit against the district at the Kootenai County Courthouse, but that case was dismissed without prejudice on a technicality.

The suit said the school district committed viewpoint discrimination after allegedly removing conservative supporters from Hayden Meadows Elementary School on Election Day. Attorney Jeremy Ray Morris said he will, on behalf of the KCRCC, ask for additional documents and consult with other witnesses before filing, likely before the end of December. Almost two weeks ago, Morris said he planned to file the federal lawsuit by the end of that week.

“As an attorney, I want to do my due diligence and make sure the complaint is as solid as possible before I file,” he said.

Morris contends the Nov. 3 incident occurred as supporters promoting conservative candidates at least 100 feet from the polling place at Hayden Meadows were forcefully removed from the premises by law enforcement at the behest of school officials. The Coeur d’Alene School District has adamantly refuted the merits of the since-dismissed lawsuit.

“The Coeur d'Alene School District denies the claims in the recent complaint asserting that the District violated the rights of anyone in connection with the recent election,” Scott Maben, the school district’s director of communications, said in a Nov. 10 interview. “The District does not allow any political campaigning on school property, regardless of whether campaigning involves candidates, bond levies or other issues. Legal counsel are reviewing the matter and will timely respond.”

When asked to comment Friday on the impending lawsuit, Maben said he would withhold comment until any new lawsuit is actually filed.

“We’ll wait and see what they do and what the complaint is," he said. "Our attorney will want to review the details before we comment.”