Gov Otter has picked Joel Horton as the new Idaho Supreme Court Justice.
This is surprising, for several reasons. The Idaho Supreme Court justices are now all white males, for the first time in years. According to Betsy Russell, Idaho is one of just 2 states with no female Justices. Both of Otter's Supreme Court picks live in Boise. Otter could have picked a woman from Boise or Caldwell, or a guy from N. Idaho. In other words, Otter picked the candidate that would least satisfy the cries for diversity on the court. (In the Idaho judiciary, diversity is gender, ethnicity and geography.)
You have to admire Otter's willingness to pick who he wants, critics be damned. And, he apparently isn't getting tired of appointing folks, since elevating Horton will open up yet another judgeship that will require an Otter appointment.
Perhaps that's part of his rationale. By appointing Horton and then Horton's replacement, Otter will add two more of his personal selections to government. If his agenda is to put his people in power, it could run for a long time, and it could give a clue about who Otter might eventually pick. Of the 24(?) folks vying for Craig's senate seat, six are in the state legislature, plus Lt. Gov Risch and AG Wasden. Picking any of them means Otter will get another seat to fill. If Otter appoints a magistrate to the district court vacancy Horton is leaving, that will be yet another appointment.
This is surprising, for several reasons. The Idaho Supreme Court justices are now all white males, for the first time in years. According to Betsy Russell, Idaho is one of just 2 states with no female Justices. Both of Otter's Supreme Court picks live in Boise. Otter could have picked a woman from Boise or Caldwell, or a guy from N. Idaho. In other words, Otter picked the candidate that would least satisfy the cries for diversity on the court. (In the Idaho judiciary, diversity is gender, ethnicity and geography.)
You have to admire Otter's willingness to pick who he wants, critics be damned. And, he apparently isn't getting tired of appointing folks, since elevating Horton will open up yet another judgeship that will require an Otter appointment.
Perhaps that's part of his rationale. By appointing Horton and then Horton's replacement, Otter will add two more of his personal selections to government. If his agenda is to put his people in power, it could run for a long time, and it could give a clue about who Otter might eventually pick. Of the 24(?) folks vying for Craig's senate seat, six are in the state legislature, plus Lt. Gov Risch and AG Wasden. Picking any of them means Otter will get another seat to fill. If Otter appoints a magistrate to the district court vacancy Horton is leaving, that will be yet another appointment.
Update: Silly me. I thought Juneal Kerrick was male, having never met Judge Kerrick. However, according to Randy Stapilus, Kerrick is a woman. My apologies. Post modified to reflect correct gender.
3 comments:
I agree. I was shocked, but not disappointed. Otter's team let it be known they were looking for diversity in the final four. One must assume they would exercise the appointment consistently with that objective.
It does raise interesting questions with regard to the senatorial appointment. Otter's a wild card.
Sisyphus
Also Otter doesn't pick the magistrate. That's left to a magistrate commission in the respective judicial district.
Sisyphus
Ah. Well, maybe there will be an end to the rolling cycle of appointments.
Given the wild card tendencies, I'm looking forward to the Craig thing playing out. Right now, Craig is testing the waters to see if he wants to stay in and keep swimming.
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