State Supreme Court finalists named
BOISE – The Idaho Judicial Council has nominated 4th District Judges Joel Horton and Darla Williamson, 3rd District Judge Juneal Kerrick and Coeur d’Alene attorney Kenneth Howard for the Idaho Supreme Court.
Two sources involved in the nomination process who requested anonymity confirmed the names to the Associated Press on Wednesday.
Now Gov. Butch Otter will select one of the four nominees to fill the spot on the bench being vacated by retiring Justice Linda Copple Trout.
Two of the nominees – Williamson and Kerrick – are women, easing concerns from some legal experts that Idaho could become one of only two states without a woman on its highest court. The other state is Indiana.
“I think we’re pleased with the work that the judicial council did in selecting what appear to be very qualified and high-caliber candidates,” Otter’s spokesman Jon Hanian said. “We’re right now trying to figure out when in the schedule the governor can sit down and interview them, and he’s looking very forward to doing that.”
Peg Dougherty, the vice president of the professional group Idaho Women Lawyers, said she was happy to learn two women had been included in the short list.
“I would say that speaking on behalf of Idaho Women Lawyers, we are very pleased that the Idaho Judicial Council recognized the importance of diversity and obviously made diversity a priority,” Dougherty said. “Idaho Women Lawyers is going to continue to encourage women to apply for any openings available in the judiciary throughout the state. Now I guess it’s up to the governor.”
Two U.S. magistrate positions are currently open in U.S. District Court, Dougherty noted.
Horton, who made the short list for a high court seat in June for the seat being vacated by then-Chief Justice Gerald Schroeder, said given the applicant pool he didn’t expect to be nominated either time. Schroeder’s seat ultimately went to Boise lawyer Warren Jones.
“Obviously this time I had a little bit more reason for hoping I would make the short list, but when you have such well-qualified people – well, I really have to consider myself lucky,” Horton said.
Williamson, who was on vacation and heading to McCall when the nominees were announced, said she could hardly believe the news.
Kerrick had a similar response. “I was on a break from trial and I held my breath and called in,” the judge said. “I’m very happy to be able to pursue this goal.”
And the only attorney to make the short list, Howard, called the nomination “one of those great experiences of your life.”
Trout, whose last day on the bench is Friday, remembers the feelings of nervousness that go along with getting nominated for the state’s highest court. “Anybody who applies is interested in having the position, and it’s a real honor,” she said.
The best advice for whoever is chosen as the new justice? Make friends quickly and well, Trout said. “An appellate court is unique in the sense that it’s a multiple person court – you have to have three to get a majority,” Trout said. “It’s important to forge those friendships and be able to visit with the others in a collegial manner. There (is) reasonable basis for different views, so it’s important to establish that rapport.”