By Maureen Ryan Braley

Hello! By the time you read this, it will be September. I hope you had a fun and relaxing summer! I am excited to share this report on the great work we are doing at the Idaho State Bar and the Idaho Law Foundation.

New Bar Commissioners

We recently welcomed two new Bar Commissioners to the Idaho State Bar Board of Commissioners. Taylor Mossman-Fletcher is from Boise and represents the Fourth District, and Matthew Wolfe is from Twin Falls and represents the Third and Fifth Districts. Serving as a Bar Commissioner requires dedication and a considerable time commitment. I appreciate Taylor and Matthew’s willingness to serve and look forward to working with them over the next three years.

Kristin Bjorkman (Boise) and Judge Robert Jackson (Payette) recently completed their terms on the Board of Commissioners. I am thankful for their leadership, and I cherish the friendships we formed along the way.

Contested Judicial Election Survey

In April 2026, the Idaho State Bar surveyed Bar members regarding the candidates in contested judicial elections in several judicial districts around the State. The candidates are limited in their ability to speak, the public wants to know more, and lawyers and judges have unique information about the candidates. At least seven news articles addressed the survey results.

Strategic Planning

The Idaho State Bar Board of Commissioners completed a strategic planning exercise in May 2026. The Board set two strategic goals for the next two years: 1) implement an attorney management system to modernize and improve our members’ digital interactions with the Bar; and 2) improve financial stewardship through non-dues revenue optimization, expense management, and informed budgeting to support a healthy financial position. The Idaho Law Foundation Board of Directors will be conducting a strategic planning exercise later this year. It is exciting to work with Bar leaders to set our course for the next few years.

2026 Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting was held in Boise on June 17, 2026. The one-day event featured five hours of CLE programming, the Idaho Law Foundation Annual Meeting and Service Awards Luncheon, and the Distinguished Lawyer, Outstanding Young Lawyer, and Milestone Reception. It was wonderful to network with and celebrate so many amazing lawyers from around our State. I was especially inspired by the videos honoring our 2026 Outstanding Young Lawyer, Kate Wheeler-Peterson, and our 2026 Distinguished Lawyers, Reed Larsen and Bill Wellman. Plans are already underway for the 2027 Annual Meeting in Coeur d’Alene.

NextGen Bar Exam

Idaho and eight other jurisdictions administered the NextGen Bar Exam for the first time on July 28-29, 2026. This new bar exam is the first wholesale revision to the bar exam since the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) launched in 1974. We are excited to be among the first wave of jurisdictions utilizing this exam, which is designed to better reflect the knowledge and skills that new lawyers need in today’s legal profession.

Resolution Process

I am looking forward to the fall 2026 Resolution process and Roadshow meetings. The Board of Commissioners is preparing resolutions recommending changes to the Idaho Bar Commission Rules and the Idaho Rules of Professional Conduct. The seven statewide meetings will also feature 30-minute CLE programs and honor recipients of the Bar’s Professionalism, Denise O’Donnell Day Pro Bono, and Retiring Judge awards. I enjoy traveling around our beautiful State and meeting our members in their communities.

2027 IOLTA Awards

The Idaho Law Foundation will approve 2027 IOLTA funding awards in October 2026. The Foundation’s IOLTA funds have benefitted from higher interest rates over the past few years. In 2026, the Foundation distributed $900,000 in IOLTA funds to support programs and organizations that provide legal aid to the poor, law-related education to the public, law school scholarships,  and improvements to the administration of justice. The Board foresees distributing $900,000 again for 2027 IOLTA funding awards.

New Faces at the Bar

In 2026, we welcomed several new and talented staff members to our team. It is invigorating to have fresh and different perspectives at the Bar. Please reach out to us with any questions. We are excited to work with you.

Maureen Ryan Braley is the Executive Director of the Idaho State Bar and the Idaho Law Foundation. Maureen is a “double Zag,” having earned her undergraduate degree in history and her law degree from Gonzaga University. She clerked for Chief Justice Gerald F. Schroeder of the Idaho Supreme Court and practiced law for six years in Boise before joining the Idaho State Bar staff in 2011 as the Director of Admissions. In 2024, she became the Executive Director.