Rexburg Judge is lone eastern Idaho Supreme Court nominee
There are 11 candidates under consideration to succeed Judge Joel D. Horton on the Idaho Supreme Court when he retires on December 31, 2018.
The candidates are:
BANDUCCI, THOMAS A., is a Lawyer in private practice in Boise, Idaho BRAILSFORD, AMANDA K., is a Lawyer in private practice in Boise, Idaho BUXTON, SUSAN E., is the Administrator, Idaho Division of Human Resources, Boise, Idaho CHRISTENSEN, RICHARD S., is a District Judge of the First Judicial District, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho GRAHAM, CHRISTOPHER P., is a Lawyer in private practice in Boise, Idaho MOELLER, GREGORY W., is a District Judge of the Seventh Judicial District, Rexburg, Idaho RAINEY, REBECCA A., is a Lawyer in private practice in Boise, Idaho SALMI, CHRISTINE M., is a Lawyer in private practice in Boise, Idaho WESTERGARD, DAVID, is the Senior Director, Patent Licensing & European Litigation at Micron Technology, Inc., Boise, Idaho WIEBE, SUSAN E., is a District Judge of the Third Judicial District, Fruitland, Idaho YORK, MARY V., is a Lawyer in private practice in Boise, Idaho
There has not been a sitting justice appointed to the Idaho Supreme Court from eastern Idaho since 1989 when Judge Larry Boyle was appointed to the court.
Seventh District Judge Gregory Moeller of Rexburg has been a finalist for a high court appointment for the past two openings. Among the eleven, he is the only finalist from eastern Idaho.
In theory, Moeller told us, that should not make a difference. “However, for our system of justice to work and maintain its legitimacy in the eyes of the public, there must also be an appearance of justice. If all of the important legal decisions in Idaho are made by a group of justices that for decades has excluded Eastern Idaho, that erodes public confidence and trust in the judicial system.”
The Idaho Judicial Council plans to meet October 29-30 in Boise to conduct interviews and select finalists. The council has now opened an opportunity for public comment.
You can find a copy of the form here. 
The questionnaires must be returned to the Judicial Council by August 17.
