Popcorn Forum celebrates Constitution Day

North Idaho College’s Popcorn Forum will co-sponsor a public forum titled “Clouds over the Constitution: Attacks on Judicial Impartiality” Sept. 17 in celebration of Constitution Day, which honors the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787. The event kicks off the 38th annual Popcorn Forum at NIC.

Two keynote speakers will be featured at the event, which is scheduled for 11 a.m. in the Lake Coeur d’Alene Room of NIC’s Edminster Student Union Building.

Dean and foundation professor of law at the University of Idaho Donald Burnett Jr. will present “A Cancer on the Republic: The Assault on Impartiality of State Courts and the Challenge to Judicial Selection.” Burnett holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Harvard University, a master’s degree in law from the University of Virginia and a judicial degree from the University of Chicago. Burnett has served as assistant attorney general for the state of Idaho, president of the Idaho State Bar, a judge of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Court as well as on the Idaho Judicial Council and Idaho Court of Appeals.

Former Chief Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court Linda Copple Trout will present “Observations on Judicial Elections.” She holds bachelor’s and judicial degrees from the University of Idaho. She has served as magistrate judge, acting trial court administrator for the 2nd Judicial District and as district judge serving Nez Perce and Clearwater counties. She was appointed by Gov. Cecil Andrus in 1992 as the first woman justice of the Idaho Supreme Court. She most recently served as chief justice of the Supreme Court for two terms.

Audience members can order a box lunch in advance if they choose to stay for the response panel at noon with Senior Judge James Judd, Administrative District Judge from the First Judicial District John Patrick Luster and attorney and member of the Idaho Judicial Council Anne Solomon. Lunches are $7 each and must be ordered in advance by sending a check made payable to NIC Auxiliary Services to the Human Rights Education Institute at P.O. Box 3281, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83816. Participants should indicate if they want a beef, turkey or a vegetable sandwich.

The event is cosponsored by the League of Women Voters of Kootenai County, the NIC Popcorn Forum, the Human Rights Education Institute, the Kootenai County Bar, the First District Bar Association and the University of Idaho College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences.

For more information, call 769-3325.