Idaho Supreme Court visits St. Anthony

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Story Published: Sep 25, 2009 at 2:18 PM MDT

Story Updated: Sep 25, 2009 at 6:31 PM MDT

By Steven Pope

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ST. ANTHONY - A Constitutional Mandate requires the Idaho State Supreme Court to leave their home base in Boise and hear cases in districts all around Idaho.

"The decisions we make are razor thin. They don't get to the Idaho Supreme Court unless the decision has a lot of appeal on both sides of the issue," said Justice Roger Burdick.

The Justices were invited to make a stop today in St. Anthony so that they could visit the court house that was built 100 years ago.

"We had our centenial planned, we had that planned a year ago, and we wanted to make the year special. And what better way than to invite the Supreme Court. I think it just gives everyone an opportunity to see how our justice system works," said Fremont County Judge Keith Walker.

I asked Justice Warren Jones, "When you put that robe on, do you feel different? Does anything change?"

"Yes. You feel a sense of responsibility that you're about to go in and make important decisions that affect people's lives," answered Justice Warren Jones.

Justices have had decades of legal experience prior to getting a position on the bench. Normally spending years as a lawyer before becoming a judge.

"The difference as a Justice, you're not advocating anything. You're trying to get to the bottom of the issues and decide something on the law so that you do the fair thing and the right thing," said Justice Jones.

There's also a major difference between magistrate or district courts and the Supreme Court. There's never a jury and there's no witnesses. There's just two lawyers arguing about an appeal. And anyone who has argued before the Supreme Court in Idaho will tell you, that it's quite the hot seat, whether it's back in Boise, or in St. Anthony.

If you are wondering why only 4 justices were on the bench today, Chief Justice Daniel Eismann is currently in South Dakota holding a law seminar.

But he'll still participate in any cases he missed via recording.

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