Official Government Website
ISB ILF 100 and 50 years Anniversary

Celebrating 100 years of the Idaho State Bar and 50 years of the Idaho Law Foundation.

Anniversary Gala

Our Anniversary Gala took place on July 16, 2025 in Boise.

Watch the presentations of the 2025 Distinguished Lawyer and Outstanding Young Lawyer Awards on our YouTube channel.

Recap of the 2025 Anniversary Gala
Idaho Legal History CLE Series
Tents to Towers Book
Award Recipients
Limited Edition Anniversary Art Print
Did you know? In 1971, the concept of limited licenses for third-year law students was introduced at the Annual Meeting. Albert Menard, Dean of the University of Idaho College of Law and namesake of the Menard Law Building on the Moscow campus, presented in support of the idea. Dean Albert R. Menard teaching a class at the College of Law in 1980. Photo credit: University of Idaho Campus Photograph Collection, [University of Idaho Library Special Collections and Archives, 1-203-14]. Idaho State Bar 100 and 50 year anniversary logo.
Did you know? Throughout the 1940s the membership of the Bar remained largely unchanged, from 519 members in 1940 to 528 members in 1949.
Did you know? The first known minutes of the Idaho State Bar were produced in January 1921 for a meeting held in Boise. Dues were set at $2.00 per year and the idea was floated to host local district meetings (the Roadshow!).
Did you know? The Anderson Ranch Dam was completed in 1952, enhancing the water management and power generation capabilities of Idaho. Photo of the almost completed Anderson Dam in 1950. Photo credit: Idaho State Archives, [Unknown, P2647, USBR REG 1-P-4-100-168].
Did you know? At the conclusion of World War II, 83 of the Bar's 458 members had served or were still actively serving in the armed services. Pictured is a list of World War II Army Casualties for Idaho, 1946. Idaho State Bar and Law Foundation 100 and 50 year anniversary logo.
Idaho State Bar 100 and 50 year anniversary logo. Did you know? Governor Robert E. Smylie was a frequent presenter at the Bar's Annual Meetings. In 1958, he made his 12th appearance! Photo of Governor Robert E. Smylie typing in the governor's office in 1957. Photo credit: Idaho State Archives, [Idaho State Historical Society, P1977-163-46].
Idaho State Bar 100 and 50 year anniversary logo. Fun Fact: Construction of the National Interstate Highway System began in Idaho in 1956, significantly improving transportation across the state. Photo of the city of Coeur d'Alene in 1958. Photo credit: Idaho State Archives, [Unknown, P1960-173-23].
Fun Fact: In 1959, the Annual Meeting attracted several national speakers, including Robert F. Kennedy from Washington, D.C. Photo of the 1959 proceedings of the Idaho State Bar. Idaho State Bar 100 and 50 year anniversary logo.
Did you know? The City of Lewiston celebrated its centennial in 1961. Pictured are observers of the parade for the centennial celebration. Seated from left to right: Wife of Mayor of Lewiston, Mayor of Lewiston, Mrs. McFadden, Governor Smylie, Mrs. Marcus Ware, Mr. Marcus Ware (previous Bar President), and Miss Lewiston Centennial. Back row from left to right: Justice Taylor, Justice McFadden, Mr. Swinney, and unidentified. Photo credit: Idaho State Archives, [Unknown, 63-21-30]. Idaho State Bar 100 and 50 year anniversary logo.
Idaho State Bar 100 and 50 year anniversary logo. In response to racial discrimination experienced broadly by Idahoans of color, the Idaho Citizens Committee for Civil Rights was formed; they drafted a bill outlawing racial discrimination in public accommodations and employment during the 1961 legislative session. Reginald Reeves of Idaho Falls, one of only two African American Bar members at the time, championed the bill alongside Republican Bill Roden of Boise. It passed with only minor opposition. Photo credit: Obituary for Reginald Ray Reeves, East Idaho News.
Did you know? The Idaho Human Rights Commission was created in 1968 with devoted efforts from several Bar members, including Curtis Oler of Boise (one of two African American Bar members at the time), Byron Johnson of Boise, and Patricia McDermott of Pocatello. Photo of Byron Johnson, previously published in The Advocate and Patricia McDermott, Idaho State Archives, Free Public Record. Idaho State Bar 100 and 50 year anniversary logo.
Idaho State Bar 100 and 50 year anniversary logo. By the late 1960s, Bar member and then-U.S. Senator Frank Church had become a vocal critic of the war in Vietnam. His efforts to help bring the war to an end stretched into the next decade. Photo credit: Portrait of U.S. Senator Frank Forrester Church II in 1960. Idaho State Archives, [Unknown, 66-49].
Fun Fact: This Sunday is the 810th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta. This royal charter was signed by King John on June 15, 1215, and while not a direct part of Idaho’s legal history, would serve as arguably the single most important legal document ever created. Photo of the display at Salisbury Cathedral in Salisbury, United Kingdom, depicting a piece of stretched and dried parchment made of sheepskin similar to that used to write the magna carta. Photo taken by Judge Lorello. Idaho State Bar 100 and 50 year anniversary logo.

Anniversary Articles in The Advocate

Click on the years below to read each anniversary article featured in The Advocate.

Early Days (1920s-30s)
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s to Present
A Brief History

Additional Links for Research

Idaho State Archives/Idaho State Historical Society
Oral History Repository
Ninth Circuit Historical Society
University of Idaho College of Law Archives

platinum sponsor fourth district bar
Gold sponsors holland and hart, hawley troxell, university of idaho, parsons behle & latimer
Silver Sponsors Rivers Edge Johnson May Stoel Rives Brassey Crawford Idaho Community Foundation
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