Comments Sought on Idaho Rules of Family Law Procedure

The Idaho Supreme Court’s Children and Families in the Courts Committee is seeking input on amendments to the Idaho Rules of Family Law Procedure.  A copy of the amendments can be found on the court’s website at https://isc.idaho.gov/main/rules-for-public-comment.

Comments on the proposed amendments may be sent to Deena Layne, dlayne@idcourts.net by Friday, October 4, 2019.  Thank you.

Lawyer Referral Service Available Online

The Idaho State Bar Lawyer Referral Service is available online at www.idaho.community.lawyer.

The Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) is operated as a public service of the Idaho State Bar. The fee for a referral is $35 unless the cases are personal injury, medical malpractice, or workers’ compensation, which receive a free referral. LRS attorneys are members in good standing with the Idaho State Bar with no pending public disciplinary complaints and carry professional liability insurance. LRS attorneys have agreed to provide their clients with an initial consultation up to a half-hour at no additional fee.

2019 Back-to-School CLE Bundling Package – 12.5 CLE Credits for $125

Limited Time Offer – September 10th to 27th

12.5 CLE Credits (self-study) for only $125.00
Idaho Programs! Idaho MCLE Approved! Presented in Idaho!

It’s Back-to-School time for students and a good time for you to hits the books again too.  The Idaho Law Foundation and Freestone would like to offer a Back-to-School CLE bundling package to assist you in obtaining self-study credits. Between September 10th and 27th, you may purchase the 2019 Back-to-School CLE Bundling Package, which includes a total of 12.5 CLE credits for only $125.00! You will be given 90 days to make your program selections, with an additional 90 days following your selection to view each program. Through selecting online, on-demand streaming, you will have the convenience to watch whenever and wherever.

As part of the bundling package, we are pleased to offer the following programs presented by high-caliber, knowledgeable legal professionals:

  • Handling Your First or Next Adoption Case (2017) – 2.0 CLE credits / NAC Approved
  • Handling Your First or Next Divorce Case (2018) – 1.75 CLE credits / NAC Approved
  • Handling Your First or Next Workers Compensation Case (2017) – 2.0 CLE credits / NAC Approved
  • Handling Your First or Next Construction Law Case (2018) – 2.0 CLE credits / NAC Approved
  • 2018 Annual Flagship CLE – Legal Malpractice Coverage (2018) – 4.0 CLE credits of which 2.0 is Ethics\
  • 2017 Annual Flagship CLE – Law Practice Management: A Mini-MBA for Legal Practitioners (2017) – 3.75 CLE credits of which 0.5 is Ethics
  • 2018 Lessons from the Masters (2018) – 1.5 CLE credits of which 0.5 is Ethics / NAC Approved
  • Ethics and Practical Issues in Dealing with Persons with a Developmental Disability (2017) – 1.5 CLE credits of which 0.75 is Ethics / NAC Approved
  • How Immigration Law Affects Your Law Practice (2017) – 2.0 CLE credits
  • Judicial Independence and Integrity in These Hyper-Partisan Times (2017) – 1.75 CLE credits of which 0.5 is Ethics
  • LGBTQ and the #MeToo Movement: The Modern Civil Rights Movement (2018) – 2.0 CLE credits of which 0.25 is Ethics
  • Recent Updates on Parental Rights: From Rotating Custody to Same-Sex Couples (2017) – 1.0 CLE credits
  • Understanding the Needs of the Military Population in the Criminal Justice System (2017) – 2.0 CLE credits of which 0.25 is Ethics / NAC Approved
  • 2018 Charitable Tax Update (2018) – 1.5 CLE credits
  • Arbitration Law and Practice (2018) – 1.75 CLE credits
  • How to Settle Any Case Using Mediation: Insights from the Mediators’ Perspective (2018) – 1.25 CLE credits
  • Everything a Lawyer Needs to Know About Appeal Bonds (2018) – 1.25 CLE credits / NAC Approved
  • Changing Perspective: How I Would Approach an Appeal Today (2017) – 0.75 CLE credits / NAC Approved

Please Note: You will not be eligible to receive additional credit for any of the CLEs listed above that you have attended or rented in the past. No refunds; no extensions; all sales are final.

Your support of Idaho Law Foundation CLE programming provides the necessary resources to fulfill the Foundation’s goal of enriching the public’s understanding of and respect for the law and legal system.

To take advantage of this great offer, select: 2019 Back-to-School Bundling Package ENDS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27!

Idaho Civil Justice Reform Task Force Call for Final Comments

After reviewing the final report and initial comments from the Civil Justice Reform Task Force, the Justices of the Idaho Supreme Court have requested a call for final comments. Members of the Bar, the judiciary, and the public are invited to review the final report and comment accordingly. The Idaho Supreme Court will hold a final meeting in mid- to late-October to adopt the recommendations either in full or in part.

For more information, visit the Idaho Supreme Court’s website or review the summary statement here: https://isc.idaho.gov/files/Summary_Statement.pdf.

National Conference of Bar Examiners Survey – Closes Sept. 30

Help Shape the Next Generation of the Bar Examination

The National Conference of Bar Examiners is asking lawyers nationwide to take part in a practice analysis survey. You can participate in this important study of the legal profession by setting aside 20 minutes to answer the survey at https://www.testingtaskforce.org/2019PAsurvey.

The survey is designed to collect information on the work that newly licensed lawyers perform; the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to competently perform that work; and the technology used in law practice. The results will provide a comprehensive picture of the core responsibilities of lawyers in their first three years of practice, and will be used by NCBE’s Testing Task Force as it considers what should be tested on the next generation of the bar exam. NCBE will publish a report of the survey results early next year.

Don’t wait—answer the survey today and provide your perspective on the work of newly licensed lawyers in your state! Please help us spread the word by forwarding this email to other attorneys and encouraging them to participate, too.  Thank you!

More 5th District CLE – Realty Reality Part 2 – Sept. 25 (Twin Falls)

Realty Reality – Part 2

Sponsored by the 5th District Bar Association

**In person attendance only

1.0 CLE credits
7:30 a.m. (MDT)

Twin Falls Senior Center

530 Shosone St. West (across from the Depot Grill)

Speaker:  Robert E. Williams, III, Esq.

Much more than a refresher from any law-school property course, Rob Williams will continue his comprehensive review of real property law focusing on joint ownership, liens, and foreclosure– all the basics that occasionally come up in every practice.

Please RSVP to LaNae at Williams Meservy by email, please to lmcarpenter@wmlattys.com

Cost:  $15 payable at the door includes hot buffet breakfast, IF YOU MAKE A RESERVATION.  Walk-ins, if available, cost $20.  Make checks payable to “Fifth District Bar Association.”

***IF YOU RESERVE, YOU MUST PAY WHETHER YOU ATTEND OR NOT***

Idaho Chapter of the Immigration Lawyers Association – Annual Chapter Conference – Oct. 4 & 5 (Meridian)

Third Annual Idaho AILA Chapter Conference Registration

What: 3rd Annual Idaho AILA Conference

When: Friday, 10/4 , & Saturday, 10/5, 8 AM – 6 PM

Where: Wahooz, Meridian, ID

Why: Come learn from the experts and collaborate with you AILA colleagues (and you need CLE credits)

Come join the Idaho Chapter of the Immigration Lawyers Association for its Third Annual Chapter Conference!  Friday will be dedicated to the intersection of criminal defense and immigration consequences.  In Padilla v. Kentucky the Supreme Court held that criminal defense attorneys are constitutionally required to advise their clients about immigration consequences of criminal convictions.  Never has the need for accurate advice been more important than it is now given the increase in immigration enforcement.  Come learn from the experts about how immigrants are put in removal proceedings, how the immigration court system works, immigration bonds, immigration law terms, how to analyze immigration consequences of crimes, some specific Idaho statutes that are problematic and some that are safe havens, best practices and tips, and how to do post-conviction and 19-2604 motions. 

Registration Information Available Here

Tentative panels for Friday include:

Crim/Imm 101 – Padilla, initiation of contact with ICE, terms, key concepts,  – 1.5 hours

Crim/Imm 201 – Analyzing consequences of crimes – 1.5 hours

Examining some common Idaho Statutes – 1.5 hours

Post-Conviction, 19-2604 motions, and more – 2 hours (one hour of ethics)

What you need to know about federal immigration crimes – 1 hour

Tentative panels for Saturday will include asylum (affirmative and defensive, PSGs), U visas/SIJS, Immigration Court (SLC judges, bonds, tips and best practices), Hot Topics, and much more. 

We’ll also have some meals and throw in some fun!

Application for Idaho CLE credit will be submitted.  We are seeking 16.5 CLE credits for both days, two of which will be ethics credits.  Registration fee includes coffee, game breaks, lunch (on Saturday), dinner and bowling (on Friday).

Pro Bono Update

By Sue Pierson

The Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Program (IVLP) has been working to expand access to civil legal services through the addition of legal clinics.  Most attorneys have the ability to spend two hours at a legal clinic every month or two and therefore clinics are a great way to attract new volunteers and keep regular volunteers coming back.  Legal clinics also help IVLP increase the number of individuals it is able to serve.  In April, IVLP launched a general legal clinic at the Garden City Library.  IVLP works with Jamie Thill, Adult Services and Outreach Coordinator, to schedule and promote the clinics.  As of August 1st IVLP has held six clinics that served more than 50 clients, and which were staffed by 16 different volunteer attorneys with several volunteering more than once.

In May, led by the efforts of, Moriah Lenhart-Wees, IVLP’s new Case Coordinator, IVLP held its first Family Law Clinic at the Canyon County Administration Building. IVLP partnered with the Canyon County Court Assistance Office (CAO) to offer the clinic following the CAO’s family law workshop.  Once clients complete their forms at the workshop, they are able to meet with attorneys to obtain legal advice about their filing. The Canyon County family law bar, as well as various Canyon County government attorneys, have stepped up to volunteer, filling a huge need in their community.   Attorneys can sign up for this and all other legal clinics at www.idahoprobono.org.  IVLP will continue to focus on adding legal clinics in other parts of the state in an effort to close the access to justice gap in Idaho.

Now that fall is here, IVLP is looking forward to National Pro Bono Celebration Week, which takes place during the last week in October.  The theme this year is domestic violence awareness and IVLP is busy working with various partners to plan events to celebrate general pro bono service as well as the generous Idaho attorneys who provide free legal services to low-income Idahoans.

Please plan on attending the Pro Bono Celebration Week Kickoff party on October 18th from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at JUMP in downtown Boise. Justice Robyn Brody will be the emcee for this mix and mingle event, during which the Idaho Military Legal Alliance will recognize its outstanding volunteers.  Enjoy food, beverages, and some fun surprises as we come together to recognize and celebrate Idaho’s pro bono community.

Stay tuned for details about our celebration events, including a CLE presented by Justice Brody, free legal clinics, and more ways you can make the time to make a difference!


Sue Pierson is the Director of the Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Program. Prior to joining IVLP she was in private practice focusing on commercial litigation and employment law. Sue earned her bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and obtained her Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland School of Law.


ACE Uses Laughter for a Good Cause: Civic Education in Idaho

By Edith L. Pacillo

I love seeing a small group of attorneys recognizing a need, getting together, and then actually going out and making a difference. Providing opportunities for civic education in Idaho might sound a bit boring to some, but not this group. ACE puts on such a great fundraiser. No silent auction, no requests for donations, no bidding on puppies, trips or centerpieces – instead just an amazingly good improv comedy group providing an evening of laugh-out-loud entertainment in a comfortable and fun venue.

Trudy Fouser, Repeat Hilarity for Charity Attendee

Have you ever seen the TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway?  Well, Hilarity for Charity is a lot like that – creative, clever, and very entertaining – and all for a good cause:  Civic education in Idaho.  Audience member Regan Jameson described it this way, “My face hurt from laughing so much!”

In June, Attorneys for Civic Education (ACE) sponsored its sixth annual Hilarity for Charity event to raise funds for civic education programs in Idaho.  A dedicated group of local improv comedians has volunteered their time and talents to support this worthy cause for the last six years.  Idaho law firms and several Idaho State Bar Practice Sections have consistently and generously sponsored this fun event so that all funds raised from ticket sales go directly to three civic education programs in Idaho:  Idaho High School Mock Trial, We The People, and YMCA Youth in Government.

ACE is a public service project of the Idaho State Bar Government and Public Sector Law Section.  ACE is run entirely by volunteer attorneys.  Anyone can join – ACE membership is not limited to government attorneys.

The Idaho High School Mock Trial Competition, sponsored by the Idaho Law Foundation’s Law Related Education Program, teaches students in grades 9-12 about the law and the legal system by participating in a simulated trial. Students from all parts of Idaho prepare a hypothetical legal case. Then, in real courtrooms, before real judges and attorneys, teams try their cases – from opening statements, through direct and cross-examination, to closing arguments, each team has its own attorneys and witnesses and must be ready to present either side of the case. Teams compete in one of three regional tournaments. The top 12 qualifying teams compete in the state tournament, and the state champion qualifies to compete in the national tournament.

The We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution Program, a program of the Center for Civic Education, promotes civic competence and responsibility among the nation’s upper elementary and secondary students. The We the People textbooks and interactive strategies, relevant content, and the simulated congressional hearing make teaching and learning exciting for both students and teachers. Since its inception in 1987, more than 28 million students and 75,000 educators have participated in the We the People Program.

Youth in Government is a YMCA high school program run throughout the state of Idaho. Through experiential learning, teens develop leadership skills as well as policy and government knowledge. Teens run for and elect state officials for the program; they join their fellow Idahoan youth in April to lobby, defend, and pass bills through the House and Senate, and make oral arguments to the student judges of the “Idaho Supreme Court.”

Each of these programs is in need of volunteer lawyers and judges in the classroom.  ACE acts as a clearinghouse for teachers looking for lawyers and judges to help with everything from one-time classroom activities to longer-term commitments such as coaching competitive teams.  Now that the school year is underway, we expect many volunteer opportunities, and we certainly do not want to let teachers and students down.  So, please consider getting involved.  No training is needed.

For information about how you can get involved with these programs, or with ACE, please send ACE an email at attorneysforcived@gmail.com.


Edith L. Pacillo is a Deputy Attorney General in Boise. The views expressed here are her own and not those of the Attorney General.


2019 Idaho State Bar Annual Meeting Recap: Education, Awards, and Camaraderie

By Lindsey M. Welfley

The 2019 Idaho State Bar Annual Meeting was held at the Boise Centre this past July and was a year of several exciting “firsts.” One of the mainstays of the Annual Meeting is the slate of exceptional CLE sessions held on Thursday and Friday. This year was the first year we have offered a webcast series to coincide with the live sessions. A total of six programs were offered via live webcast to remote attendees both state and nationwide. A flagship program, this year’s Annual Meeting Webcast Series welcomed 113 remote participants – increasing our ability to reach members who were unable to attend in person.

Photos by Lindsey Welfley. Idaho Court of Appeals Chief Judge David Gratton (right) presented the 2019 Distinguished Jurist Award to the Honorable Jesse Walters (left) at this year’s Annual Meeting.

In addition to the first Annual Meeting Webcast Series, attendees also participated in the first Lawyers Give! Blood Drive in partnership with the American Red Cross. A total of 37 donors registered and donated 32 pints of blood as part of this year’s community service project. Of the 37 donors, 20 were first-time donors. The commitment of our membership to help fill the missing blood types helped boost the community blood supply and helped ensure hospital patients have the lifesaving blood they need. A huge thank you to those who participated!

While 2019 held a few “firsts,” this year’s Annual Meeting also held to several longstanding traditions. Each year, lawyers and a jurist selected by the Board of Commissioners are awarded with the Idaho State Bar’s highest honor, the Distinguished Lawyer & Jurist Awards. On the evening of July 24, the President’s Reception and Distinguished Lawyer & Jurist Awards Dinner brought together this year’s award recipients and their families, friends, and colleagues to celebrate. The 2019 Distinguished Jurist is Hon. Jesse R. Walters of Meridian. The 2019 Distinguished Lawyers are Robert R. Chastain of Boise, Jeffrey C. Fereday of Boise, and William F. Gigray III of Nampa.

The Plenary Session was held on the morning of Thursday, July 25 and featured Idaho Supreme Court Justice Robyn Brody with an update on the state of the Courts. Following Justice Brody was Keynote Speaker Tim O’Brien, journalist, author, and TV commentator. O’Brien spoke on the media’s coverage of the United States Supreme Court and the importance of fostering a collegial disposition between the press and those within the legal profession. After the Plenary Session, CLE programming for the week began with a total of 4.5 CLE credits, including 3.25 Ethics credits and 3.0 NAC Approved credits, available on Thursday.

Interim Dean of Concordia University School of Law, Latonia Haney Keith, presented to a full house during one of the CLE sessions at this year’s Annual Meeting. The panel’s presentation on implicit bias was a crowd favorite.

The Idaho State Bar and Idaho Law Foundation Service Awards Luncheon and Idaho Law Foundation Annual Meeting were held Thursday afternoon, during which recipients of the Family Law Section Award of Distinction, Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, and 2019 Service Awards were recognized. This year’s recipient of the Family Law Award of Distinction is Maureen Laflin and the 2019 Outstanding Young Lawyer is Brit Kreimeyer. The 2019 Service Award recipients are: Anthony C. Anegon of Lewiston, Jim Everett of Boise/Caldwell, Shirley Fields of Boise, C. Clay Gill of Boise, Denise McClure of Boise, Michael F. Peacock of Boise, Amanda J. Rekow of Meridian, Mary E. Shea of Pocatello, Mahmood Sheikh of Boise, and S.E. Anne Solomon of Coeur d’Alene. President of the Idaho Law Foundation, David Maguire, gave an update on the latest achievements of the Foundation and spoke to the importance of financial support from our members.

On Thursday evening we celebrated those attorneys who have been members of the Idaho State Bar for 25, 40, 50, 60, 65, and 70 years at the Milestone Celebration Reception. We heard from several attorneys who have been practicing for 50, 60, 65, and 70 years – the first time in decades we’ve been afforded the opportunity to honor 70-year members. The dedication of these members to upholding the values of the legal profession is inspiring.

Special thanks to the team from the American Red Cross who helped our members donate blood as part of the first Lawyers Give! Blood Drive.

Another round of CLE sessions began Friday morning with a total of 5.5 CLE credits, including 3.0 Ethics credits and 8.0 NAC Approved credits, available throughout the day. The Social Networking BBQ on Friday afternoon provided an opportunity for attendees to network with colleagues as well as the lineup of Official Corporate Sponsors and Exhibitors whose support of the Annual Meeting makes the event possible each year. The Idaho State Bar’s Government and Public Sector Lawyers Section was recognized as the 2019 Section of the Year. The inaugural “Learned Foot Trophy” was presented to the Idaho Supreme Court for their participation as the largest team running in the 6th Annual Access to Justice FUND Run 5K this past June. The Administrative office of the Courts had justices, judges, and staff totaling 39 participants.

The final awards of this year’s Annual Meeting were the Best of The Advocate Awards, acknowledging the Editorial Board’s selections for the previous calendar year. This year’s categories and respective recipients were: Best Issue Sponsor, November/December 2018 sponsored by the Idaho Legal History Society; Best Article, “It’s the Little Wondrous Blunders that Can Summon One’s Demise” by Leslie Hayes and Bryan Nickels from May 2018; and Best Cover Photo, August 2018 cover photo by John Marshall. Rounding out the festivities, the Presidential Gavel was passed from outgoing President David Cooper to current President Judge Michael Oths. One final CLE session followed the BBQ and the 2019 Idaho State Bar Annual Meeting formally concluded at 3:15 p.m. on Friday, July 26.


Lindsey M. Welfley is the Communications Director for the Idaho State Bar and the Idaho Law Foundation, Inc. She has worked for the Idaho State Bar since 2015. Lindsey received her B.A. in History from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona and is a certified social media marketer. In her free time, Lindsey enjoys cooking international cuisines, reading classic literature, and playing with her two pets.