“Gov. Butch Otter’s decision to appoint Joel Horton to the state Supreme Court means Idaho will be served by a well-respected jurist. However, it also means that the only perspective on the state Supreme Court will that of white men over 50. I find it hard to believe that of all Idaho’s lawyers and judges, Otter’s Republican administration could not find room for even a single woman or minority. And as you can see by Horton’s reference to ‘Saint Phil’ in his comments to the Associated Press, the Republican Good- ‘Ole Boy network has again installed one of their own. The next important Idaho appointment – to replace Sen. Larry Craig – is expected to be handed down very soon. Yet of all the potential replacements, only one is a woman; the rest are middle-aged white male. It is extremely troubling that this perspective is the only one that seems to matter to Idaho’s Republican leaders.”

Richard Stallings
Chairman, Idaho Democratic Party

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