Lawyer Well-Being Week – Take a Few Minutes Each Day to Focus on You

The Idaho State Bar Attorney Well-Being Task Force invites you to celebrate Lawyer Well-Being Week, May 4th through May 8th. Join other members of the profession, the courts and support staff by participating in these free remote-friendly activities.

We will focus on a different aspect of well-being Monday through Friday. Every day you will have at least three different suggestions for activities and education. This “well- rounded” wheel shows the well-being emphasis for each day of the week. There is something for everyone!

Click on the days of the week for specific activities including something to watch, something to read and something to do that is focused on an element of well-being for each day.

Thank you to the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being for leading the effort to raise awareness of the importance of well-being for all. For additional information, resources, and activities, please visit the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being website.  

Member of ISB’s Attorney Well-Being Task Force wish all of you continued health and well-being, especially in these challenging times.  If you are in need of any particular assistance, the Idaho Lawyer’s Assistance Program and its website offers resources in a wide range of areas—please do not hesitate to reach out.

If you are interested in more comprehensive workouts and nutrition information, please also visit our 21 Day Idaho Strong Challenge page. You can sign up to take the challenge and help the Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Program at the same time.

The Mindfulness in the Law Society has a series of weekly chats entitled: Pandemic Life:  Weekly Chats for Lawyers and the Legal Profession. The series is designed to help lawyers, judges, law students and other legal professionals deal with challenges related to life and practice during COVID-19. Each half hour session will focus on a pressing topic. They are live at 5:30 p.m. MDT on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in their private Facebook group. For more information or to register, visit their website HERE.

The American Bar Association also has a series of webinars this week on on well-being that are free to ABA members, but available for anyone. Please click HERE for a list.

If you have suggestions for activities for the Attorney Well-Being Task Force, please feel free to email the chair Julie Stomper at julie@beardstclair.com.

ABA Law Day 2020 Program: Social Movement Changing America: The Legacies of the 19th Amendment –April 30th

Idaho Supreme Court Order – Effective May 1, 2020

The Idaho Supreme Court has issued an Order establishing how court proceedings and facilities will be operated as of May 1, 2020. Please read the full Order linked below:

In Re: Emergency Reduction in Court Services and Limitation of Access to Court Facilities

Idaho Supreme Court Order Re: Further Extension of Emergency Reduction in Court Services through April 30

The Idaho Supreme Court has issued an Order regarding the further extension of emergency reduction in court services and limitation of access to court facilities through April 30, 2020. Please read the full Order linked below:

In Re: Extension of Emergency Reduction in Court Services and Limitation of Access to Court Facilities

Nominate a Colleague for a Professional Award – Deadline May 1

The Idaho State Bar Board of Commissioners is now soliciting nominations for professional awards. These awards were initiated by the Board of Commissioners to highlight members who demonstrate exemplary leadership, direction, and commitment in their profession.

  • Distinguished Lawyer – This award is given to an attorney (or attorneys) each year who has distinguished the profession through exemplary conduct and many years of dedicated service to the profession and to Idaho citizens.
  • Distinguished Jurist Award – This award recognizes excellence, integrity, and independence by a member of the judiciary. Nominees are selected for their competence, fairness, goodwill, and professionalism.
  • Professionalism Awards – These awards are given to at least one attorney in each of Idaho’s seven judicial districts who has engaged in extraordinary activity in his or her community, in the state, or in the profession, which reflects the highest standards of professionalism.
  • Pro Bono Awards – Pro bono awards are presented to attorneys from each of the judicial districts that have donated extraordinary time and effort to help clients who are unable to pay for services.
  • Service Awards – Service awards are given each year to lawyers and non-lawyers for exemplary service to the Bar and/or Idaho Law Foundation.
  • Outstanding Young Lawyer – The purpose of this award is to recognize a young lawyer who has provided service to the profession, the Idaho State Bar, Idaho Law Foundation, the community and who exhibits professional excellence.
  • Section of the Year – The Practice Section of the Year Award is presented in recognition of a Section’s outstanding contribution to the Idaho State Bar, to their area of practice, to the legal profession, and to the community. Recipients of the awards will be announced in May.

Award nominations should include the following:

  • Name of the award
  • Name, address, phone, and email of the person(s) you are nominating
  • A short description of the nominee’s activity in your community or in the state, which you believe brings credit to the legal profession and qualifies him or her for the award you have indicated
  • Any supporting documents or letters you want to be included with the nomination
  • Your name, along with your address, phone, and email

You can nominate a person for more than one award. Nominations are accepted throughout the year. Submit nominations to: Executive Director, Idaho State Bar, PO Box 895, Boise ID 83701 or email Diane Minnich.

U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts, District of Idaho General Order Re: Court Operations

The United States District and Bankruptcy Courts for the District of Idaho have issued a General Order regarding continued court operations in response to coronavirus (COVID-19). Please read the full Order linked below:

In Re: Continued Court Operations in Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Board of Commissioners Elections- 4th District/3rd & 5th Districts


Voting opened on Monday, April 20 and will conclude at 5:00 p.m. (MT) on Tuesday, May 5.

The candidate for Commissioner to represent the Third and Fifth Districts is:

Laird B. Stone



The candidates for Commissioners to represent the Fourth District are:

Kristin Bjorkman Dunn
Mark H. Manweiler

Candidate bios are available HERE.

Ballot information was sent to you on Monday morning from vote@electionsonline.com. It will contain a link to the voting page, your personal login information, and password.

If you did not receive a message with your personalized ballot information, please check your spam or junk folder. If you are still unable to find the ballot, or if you prefer a paper ballot, please contact Shay Beckwith. A reminder email will be sent to individuals who have not voted by May 1.

We encourage your participation in this election.

Third & Fifth District Board of Commissioners Election – Voting Open

It is time to elect the Commissioner to represent the Third and Fifth Districts. Voting opened on Monday, April 20 and will conclude at 5:00 p.m. (MT) on Tuesday, May 5. The candidates are:

Laird B. Stone

Ballot information was sent to you on Monday morning from vote@electionsonline.com. It will contain a link to the voting page, your personal login information, and password.

If you did not receive a message with your personalized ballot information, please check your spam or junk folder. If you are still unable to find the ballot, or if you prefer a paper ballot, please contact Shay Beckwith. A reminder email will be sent to individuals who have not voted by May 1.

We encourage your participation in this election.

Take the 21 Day Challenge and Kick-Off Lawyer Well-Being Week on May 4th

The Idaho State Bar’s Attorney Well-Being Task Force has teamed up with Targhee Athletics to present #IdahoStrong, a 21-day health and fitness challenge.  This challenge is for ANYONE! It will include at-home workouts (no equipment required), nutrition advice and challenges, and mental well-being practices. BONUS for parents looking for fun at home PE class, have your children join you for some or all of the workout. It is fun and family friendly!

The challenge will kick off off Lawyer Well-Being Week on Monday, May 4 and run through Friday, May 22.

Please visit the #IdahoStrong Challenge website for more information and to sign up. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Program to support its services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The  Idaho Volunteer Lawyer Program has been hard at work revamping its entire process to find new ways to serve those in need while the Stay-At-Home Order is in effect. Like all non-profits, the economic downturn affects the IVLP’s ability to secure the funding it needs to maintain programming and it is in competition for limited funds resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.   For more information on IVLP, please visit their website.

Looking for more ways to stay healthy and strong? Visit our Lawyer Well-Being Week web page for more information on Lawyer Well-Being Week, May 4th through May 8th. On this page you will find remote-friendly activities that you can do on your own at no cost.

Check out additional resources provided by the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being here.

Here we go, #IdahoStrong!

Idaho Supreme Court Order Re: May Oral Arguments

The Idaho Supreme Court has issued an Order regarding May 2020 oral arguments. All Supreme Court hearings scheduled during the month of May 2020 will be conducted via Zoom video conferencing, on the date and time currently set for oral argument. Please read the full Order linked below:

In Re: Supreme Court May 2020 Oral Arguments