Introduction

This year’s Distinguished Jurist, Idaho Supreme Court Justice Cynthia Meyer, comes from a unique background, spanning everything from private practice to small business ownership, teaching and eventually serving on the bench both as a district judge in the First Judicial District and then on Idaho’s highest Court. In speaking with her about the adventures of her life thus far, her humility is inspiring and her passion for her work is evident.

Career Path

Justice Meyer was born in Mountain Home and spent her early life there. Both sets of her grandparents were from the area, as well as a long line of aunts, uncles, and other distant relatives. She moved with her family to Jerome and attended a country school in first and second grade.  From there, her family moved to Pocatello where she attended local schools and graduated from Pocatello High School. Justice Meyer remembers her aspirations for her future career changing with the tide of her favorite classes at the time. During her senior year of high school, she fell in love with her government class. “That was the one that really spoke to me.” Her teacher instilled in her great respect for the people who turned the gears of our system of government, most of whom are attorneys, and Justice Meyer decided this was the path she wanted to follow.

After graduating high school, she set out on this path by attending the College of Idaho and receiving her undergraduate degree in political science. After taking a two-year break from school, she moved down to Utah to attend the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law. During her third year of law school, she was encouraged to take up litigation upon graduation. This is precisely what she did, combining her skill in the courtroom setting with her knowledge base in real property, contracts, bankruptcy creditor issues, and insurance defense.

Justice Meyer graduated with her juris doctorate and recalls economic times being tough as she made her way into the workforce. Finding jobs then was no easy feat, but she was fortunate to begin her career at the firm Sessions & Moore. During her first year in practice, she met her husband, Rick, and they eventually married and began a family. In the meantime, she moved on to a boutique litigation firm, Campbell Maack & Sessions, where she practiced for four years. Her next career move took her to the insurance defense firm originally called Morgan & Hansen, then Morgan, Meyer & Rice. “This was where I got wings and really flew. It was fun, good work.” She spent close to 10 years with this firm before making another big professional shift.

In the early 2000s, Justice Meyer felt a tug to make her way back home. During a vacation in McCall one summer, she remembers sitting around the campfire with her husband thinking, “Wouldn’t it be fun living somewhere like this?” She recalls, “We left there with these dreams of ‘maybe it’s time for a change.’” After a business deal fell through for the purchase of a rental company in McCall, Justice Meyer and Rick turned their attention to Coeur d’Alene and decided to move their family to North Idaho in 2003. She was admitted to practice in Idaho right away but chose to take a break from active practice. Instead, she and Rick focused on their family boat rental business. The Meyer family spent eight summers providing the area with an outlet for summer fun. “We were able to employ local high school and college kids and keep our own kids close. It was so much fun, and the business did well. We have some great memories.”

Justice Meyer spent the off-season teaching paralegal classes and business law as an adjunct instructor at North Idaho College and these off-season months were when she began to miss her legal practice. “It was good for me because I had always wanted to teach, and it was an opportunity for me to finally get to do that.” When she decided to get back into the swing of things, Justice Meyer joined the firm of James, Vernon & Weeks, still in North Idaho. She practiced “a combination of everything [she’d] done before but bankruptcy.”

In 2013, Justice Meyer applied to be a district judge after the retirement of Judge John Luster. This initial attempt did not come to fruition, but she tried again in 2015 after the retirement of Judge Ben Simpson. This time she received the appointment and served as a district judge from 2015 until the end of 2023, when she was appointed to the Idaho Supreme Court.

Notable Career Moments

Throughout her time in practice and on the bench, Justice Meyer highlights a few specific cases she finds particularly memorable. She remembers the first jury trial she ever tried on her own. “At the time I had about a half hour commute, and I’d practice my closing argument in the car out loud every day.” It was an unexpected victory and one she remembers as a great lesson in allowing the jury to do its job.

More recently, during the controversy surrounding the matter of North Idaho College and the trustees, Justice Meyer recalls her pride in how the matter was handled. “It was very important to the public. […] Legally it was very technical and highly contested.” Despite the case being controversial, with different groups fairly entrenched in their positions, Justice Meyer felt it was both humbling and an honor to serve her community in this way.

Role Models

When reflecting on the people in her life who have spurred her along and provided lasting encouragement, Justice Meyer cites a variety of both personal and professional influences. “My mother and stepfather [John and Dawn Hatch] were tremendous role models for hard work and achievement.” She also recognizes her friend, Susan Weeks, at James Vernon & Weeks, as both a role model and a great partner.

Earlier in her career, several in her law school class looked to Justice Sandra Day O’Conner in her new role on the United States Supreme Court. “All of us saw her as such a beacon.” Another early mentor was Clark Sessions, a well-known Utah trial attorney, “he really was the best mentor that I could have had. He was a great trial attorney, very well respected, and I just learned so much.”

Justice Meyer lives in Boise with her family and has recently found a love for painting. She took up this hobby several years ago with her daughter and likes to reflect on the many life-lessons painting can teach. Everything from patience to the willingness to see things through—both qualities she brings her to her role as a jurist.

During her nearly twenty years in Utah, Justice Meyer recounts that she missed Idaho and was sad about the possibility that she might never practice law in her home state. Since returning to Idaho, resuming the practice of law, and especially during her tenure as a district judge and now as a justice, she has come to know many attorneys in Idaho. “This is a great bar. I am continually impressed with the quality of lawyers in this state in large towns and more rural areas.” She is thankful for the opportunity to have worked with so many talented attorneys and jurists in Idaho. She is especially thankful to be working with the other justices on the Court as well as with the Supreme Court staff and the AOC. “If others think it might be daunting to work with such intelligent, driven people, they would be right,” she laughs, but is quick to point out how down-to-earth, kind, and personable her colleagues are.

Justice Meyer would like to thank her immediate and extended family for their enthusiasm and support for her in her current role. “Without their love and support, this job would be much more difficult.”  She continues, “But with my family’s support, I get to enjoy my job every day, working with great people to make a difference in this state upholding the rule of law.”

Lindsey M. Welfley is the Communications Director of the Idaho State Bar, overseeing all communications-related initiatives of both the Bar and Foundation. She graduated from Grand Canyon University with a B.A. in history in 2015 and has worked for the Bar ever since. Lindsey lives in Boise with her husband, their two daughters, and two pets