In a first, state bar rates judicial candidates

First Judicial District Judge John T. Mitchell was rated as more qualified than his election challenger, Rami Amaro, in a newly released Idaho State Bar poll of the two candidates’ qualifications.

Mitchell, who is seeking re-election this fall to the post he won in 2002, was rated above average in four areas of performance.

Amaro, an attorney, was rated as slightly below average. She filed in March to run against Mitchell, and said the poll is flawed. “This survey is very insulting to me and very disappointing,” she said. “I absolutely do not agree that it reflects my skill.”

It is the first time the state bar has conducted polls of judicial candidates. The bar’s membership in 2003 adopted a resolution calling for the polls in contested judicial races to help voters choose among candidates.

The bar sent out 364 survey forms to judges and attorneys in the First Judicial District, which covers five counties in North Idaho, and received 53 responses. Results were tabulated by the Idaho Supreme Court.

The forms asked for ratings of 1 through 4 in each of four areas of performance with 1 being below average, 2 average, 3 above average and 4 exceeding expectations.

On integrity and independence Mitchell received a rating of 3.25 compared with 1.68 for Amaro. The results in the other three areas were similar. On knowledge and understanding of the law, Mitchell was rated at 3.09 compared with Amaro at 1.69. On judicial temperament and demeanor, Mitchell was rated 3.17 to Amaro at 1.65. On legal ability and experience, Mitchell was at 3.15 and Amaro at 1.45.

The same poll was distributed statewide, and both candidates scored slightly higher.

Amaro said she has received high to very high ratings for both her legal ability and her ethics by Martindale Hubbell, a lawyer ratings firm. She questioned the anonymity of the Idaho bar poll and its small number of responses.

Mitchell said the poll reflects the reputation he has built through 15 years as a trial attorney and four and one half years as a judge.

“It says what I’ve said all along about my credibility, my experience,” he said.

Mitchell, a University of Idaho law graduate, also said the poll appears to be a fair measure of qualifications since it is done confidentially and allows attorneys and judges a chance to express their opinions freely.

Amaro, a 1996 law graduate of the University of Cincinnati, was admitted to the Ohio State Bar in 1996 and was ruled to be eligible to run for judge under an Idaho law requiring 10 years of bar experience. She is admitted to practice in Idaho, Washington, federal court and tribal court. Her Coeur d’Alene practice is in general law.