Idaho judge lays out rules on phones, buttons, remote viewing for Lori Daybell trial

Lori Vallow Daybell’s murder trial in Ada County will be live-streamed to a room in the Madison County Courthouse in Eastern Idaho for the public to watch when it begins next month.

District Judge Steven Boyce issued an order governing courtroom conduct Tuesday that lays out rules for those attending the trial and what people can expect should they show up at either courthouse.

“Said remote viewing location (in the Madison County Courthouse) will be chosen by the Honorable Dane H. Watkins, Jr., Administrative District Judge of the Seventh Judicial District, and may be changed from time to time as deemed necessary by Judge Watkins due to other Madison County needs,” Boyce wrote in the order.

The public can attend the trial in-person at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, where an overflow room will be set up for additional seating. Boyce is prohibiting media cameras, live video broadcasts and a live audio feed.

All spectators in Madison and Ada counties will have to follow the courtroom order, including the following points:

▪ Everyone will be screened through security. Handbags, backpacks and other items are subject to inspection.

▪ Cellphones and other electronic devices must be off or in silent mode. They cannot record, photograph or transmit sounds, images or video from the courtroom.

▪ Seating is provided on a first-come, first-served basis through an online reservation system. Reservations can be made the business day before each trial date.

▪ Attendees may not wear buttons or items that display messages of any kind.

The overflow rooms are being offered “only for the portions of the jury trial that are public, subject to the technological needs and possible periodic interruption(s) due to technological issues,” Boyce wrote.

Daybell is charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder for the deaths of 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan — two of Lori’s children — along with husband Chad Daybell’s previous wife, Tammy Daybell. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Chad Daybell was going to be tried jointly with Lori, but his attorneys won a motion to sever the cases, with Boyce issuing that ruling last week.