Idaho Supreme Court candidate Robyn Brody called a news conference today to announce support from eight county sheriffs and 18 county prosecutors, and a former longtime Nampa police chief and the Owyhee County sheriff took the opportunity to raise concerns about her opponent, Curt McKenzie.

Former Nampa Chief Curtis Homer and Owyhee County Sheriff Perry Grant both pointed to the same concerns that prompted the Fraternal Order of Police to withdraw its endorsement of McKenzie in August: His filing of two unsuccessful civil lawsuits against local officers charging excessive use of force.

“Those lawsuits, as frivolous as they are, they just shouldn’t be filed,” Homer said.

Grant said, “Today, law enforcement is under constant scrutiny. Sometimes it’s justified scrutiny, and sometimes it’s not.” He said he’s backing Brody, not McKenzie, saying McKenzie’s approach is “the last thing we need in there.”

Homer also said he backs Brody because she’s never held political office; McKenzie is a seven-term state senator. “This is a lady who believes in the law and that it should be administered correctly for all the people,” he said.

McKenzie, who has stoutly defended the two lawsuits he filed – including a $110 million civil case against a Canyon County sheriff’s deputy that a federal jury quickly dismissed in August – said, “I would say that the rights protected by the Constitution, including the 4^th Amendment, apply to every citizen. And I’ve had cases involving law enforcement, such as a case where a high school student was molested by a school resource officer.” He won that civil case.

“I would say the proper forum to address these issues is in the court,” McKenzie said.

He added, “During my tenure as a legislator, I carried all the significant legislation on behalf of the Fraternal Order of Police, but that doesn’t mean that I would not represent someone if I believe that their rights had been violated.”

The FOP, which represents 1,800 law enforcement officers in Idaho, voted in August to withdraw its endorsement of McKenzie and instead not endorse in the nonpartisan Idaho Supreme Court race.

Brody’s list of law enforcement supporters released Thursday includes eight county sheriffs, from Idaho County Sheriff Doug Giddings to Cassia County Sheriff Jay Heward; 18 county prosecutors, from Ada County to Franklin County; two retired city police chiefs; and a retired Idaho State Police detective.

She said she was “humbled to have the trust and backing of such prominent present and past leaders in law enforcement across Idaho.”

Grant Loebs, Twin Falls County prosecutor, said in a statement, “Robyn is not seeking a position on the Supreme Court for personal gain or to push an agenda. Robyn is highly educated and has a keen and inquisitive legal mind. Many of us are speaking out in the hope that voters will study the background of those running for Supreme Court and they will agree that Robyn is the strongest candidate to serve Idahoans on the court.”

McKenzie recently announced that he’s been endorsed by the Idaho Association of Realtors, whose president, Tracy Kasper, said in a statement, “During his seven terms in the Idaho state Senate, he has been a stalwart defender of property rights and individual liberty. This along with his strong legal background makes him the right choice to be Idaho’s next Supreme Court justice.”

McKenzie also has collected endorsements from the Idaho Farm Bureau, the National Rifle Association and Idaho Chooses Life.

 Brody said she didn’t seek endorsements from the associations representing sheriffs or prosecutors, instead pursuing individuals. “To me, it’s all about the people,” she said. “That’s what matters most – that individual support.”