Judge disallows food drive in lieu of court fines

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By The Associated Press

Story Published: Sep 3, 2008 at 6:51 PM MST

Story Updated: Sep 3, 2008 at 6:51 PM MST

GREAT FALLS - A district judge in Missoula says courts can no longer allow those facing fines to pay part of their bill by donating canned food to be given to food banks.

Edward McLean is chairman of the Judicial Standards Commission, which considers the practice improper. Municipal Court Judge Nancy Luth of Great Falls says a letter from McLean stated that the food drives violated a judicial canon of ethics.

Luth says she has held a canned food drive every December since 1994, waiving a $50 payment if people donated 10 cans of food. A spokeswoman for the Great Falls Community Food Bank says the donations brought 23 tons of food to the food bank during that time.

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