Homeless Camping Lawsuit Against Boise Returns to Court

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Attorneys once again defended an ordinance that bars sleeping and camping in public spaces in an ongoing lawsuit brought by several homeless Idaho residents against the city of Boise.

The suit is one of many filed in multiple states challenging the legality of local laws targeting the homeless, several of which have been overturned. Legal advocates sued the city and the Boise Police Department in 2009 on behalf of eight homeless residents who had been arrested or cited for violating Boise's rules against sleeping in public. The group contends that the ordinances criminalize homelessness because shelters are often full, forcing homeless residents to sleep in parks or other public spaces.

U.S. District Magistrate Judge Ronald Bush listened to arguments on both sides on Thursday.