By james art 
BOISE, Idaho – The legal team for former Idaho state representative Aaron Von Ehlinger, who is serving a 20-year sentence after his sentencing in 2022. for raping a legislative intern, appeared in a critical hearing Monday morning before the Idaho Supreme Court. Von Ehlinger’s attorney argued that improper testimony was admitted during his trial, violating his Sixth Amendment rights.
In the Nov. 4 hearing, Von Ehlinger’s attorneys focused primarily on claims regarding the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment, with his defense team arguing that he was denied the right to directly confront his accuser.
The prosecution’s case relied heavily on statements made by a forensic nurse who interviewed the victim after she gave a brief statement but left the stand before cross-examination. Von Ehlinger’s lawyers argued that allowing the nurse to give the victim’s account deprived the defense of a fair chance to cast doubt on key testimony in the case.
The second argument raised by Von Ehlinger’s attorneys questions the scope of the forensic nurse’s testimony. They argued that the questions asked of the nurse led her to discuss specific details of the alleged assault that extended beyond her medical expertise, making her testimony less about clinical observation and more about relaying the alleged events.
However, the State defended the trial court’s decision to include the nurse’s testimony, arguing that it was essential for medical purposes and did not exceed the limits of the evidence.
Prosecutors also emphasized that von Ehlinger’s defense did not object to that testimony during the trial, suggesting they found it admissible at the time.
If the Idaho Supreme Court sides with von Ehlinger, he could get a new trial.