Power County commissioners Delane Anderson, Ronald Funk and Vicki Meadows violated the Idaho Constitution when they hired outside counsel, reports the Idaho State Journal.

District Judge David C. Nye issued the ruling, saying "The commissioners can not create a self-made necessity by refusing to adequately fund the prosecuting attorney’s office, particularly when that funding is available but is diverted to outside counsel."

The commissioners were challenged by prosecutor F. Randall Kline, who believes the commissioners had exceeded their powers when they hired outside counsel.