Moeller nominated for Idaho Supreme Court vacancy

7th District Judge Greg Moeller is among 14 jurists and attorneys nominated to be Idaho’s newest Supreme Court Justice and the only one from eastern Idaho. Justice Warren Jones will step down next month.

Moeller was among four finalists to replace Justice Daniel Eismann earlier this year.

Jones announced in October he would step down from the post December 31 for personal and family health circumstances. He was named to the high court by Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter in July 2007.

Here are the names of the candidates being considered at this time:

Ronaldo A. Coulter is a Lawyer in private practice in Eagle, Idaho Christopher P. Graham is a Lawyer in private practice in Boise, Idaho David J. Hamilton is a Lawyer in private practice in Twin Falls, Idaho Cynthia K.C. Meyer is a District Judge of the First Judicial District, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Gregory W. Moeller is a District Judge of the Seventh Judicial District, Rexburg, Idaho Melissa N. Moody is a District Judge of the Fourth Judicial District, Boise, Idaho Christine M. Salmi is a Lawyer in private practice in Boise, Idaho Luverne E. Shull is a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Jerome County, Gooding, Idaho George A. Southworth is a District Judge of the Third Judicial District, Nampa, Idaho John R. Stegner is a District Judge of the Second Judicial District, Moscow, Idaho Jeffrey A. Thomson is a Lawyer in private practice in Boise, Idaho David Westergard is the Director, Patent Licensing & European Litigation at Micron Tech, Boise, Idaho Susan E. Wiebe is a District Judge of the Third Judicial District, Fruitland, Idaho Carl J. Withroe is a Lawyer in private practice in Boise, Idaho

The governor will ultimately replace Jones from a list of two to four names provided by the Idaho Judicial Council. That nominee will then fill out the remainder of Jones’ unexpired term, which ends in January 2021. An election to select a justice for the next 6-year term will be held in May 2020.

Judge Moeller said he expected the selection process to be very competitive.

“It is an honor to once again be considered among such well-qualified and experienced judges and lawyers for this position,” said Moeller. “I was a finalist for the same position last summer, and I owe a debt of gratitude to everyone who supported me. This time, as the only candidate from Eastern Idaho, I will once again need all the local support I can get from the public, members of the bar, and public officials. If selected, I will do my best to represent the entire state in protecting the rule of law and ensuring equal protection for all Idaho residents.”