Meyer appointed to Idaho Supreme Court

COEUR d’ALENE — Gov. Brad Little has appointed First Judicial District Judge Cynthia Meyer to the Idaho Supreme Court.

Meyer will replace Justice John R. Stegner, who retired Oct. 31, and will take the bench after Jan. 1, 2024. She’ll carry out the remainder of Stegner’s term, which expires in January 2027.

“It feels amazing,” Meyer told The Press after the governor’s office announced her appointment Monday. “It’s really exciting and a bit overwhelming. It’s bittersweet, as well, because I love the people I work with.”

Little chose Meyer from among four candidates submitted by the Idaho Judicial Council. Also on the shortlist were former Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, private practice attorney Christopher Graham and Fourth Judicial District Judge Diane M. Walker.

“Judge Meyer’s strong intellect and writing skills are just two qualities that will make her an excellent addition to the Idaho Supreme Court,” Little said in a news release Monday. “Her appointment will bring representation from North Idaho to the statewide Idaho Supreme Court and the materials I reviewed in considering her appointment are evidence she is widely respected by her peers and community as an intelligent, fair and competent jurist.”

Gov. Butch Otter appointed Meyer to the First Judicial District in 2015.

Before entering public office, Meyer practiced and later became a partner with Coeur d’Alene law firm James, Vernon and Weeks, P.A. She has nearly 30 years of experience in representing individuals and businesses as litigation and general counsel. Between 2005 and 2009, she also served as an adjunct instructor at North Idaho College.

She has presided over a number of high-profile cases in Kootenai County, including North Idaho College President Nick Swayne’s successful lawsuit to be reinstated after NIC’s board of trustees placed him on indefinite administrative leave for no disciplinary reason.

NIC has appealed Meyer’s ruling in the case to the Idaho Supreme Court.

Meyer said it will be tough to say goodbye to the people she works with in Kootenai County.

“Judges would be really hard-pressed to do their work without the help of all the people who work with them,” she said. “All the court staff, other judges, attorneys who appear before them — I just appreciate all of these people more than I could ever say.”

The feeling is mutual. Trial court administrator Karlene Behringer said Meyer has been easy to work with, describing her as perceptive, proactive and thoughtful.

“She’ll do a tremendous job,” Behringer said. “I will miss her desperately.”

Meyer is the second Idaho Supreme Court Justice appointed by Little. She joins Justice Colleen Zahn, appointed to the bench by little in 2021, as well as Chief Justice Richard Bevan, Justice Robyn Brody and Justice Gregory Moeller.

Behringer said it warms her heart to see a woman from Idaho’s First Judicial District join the top court. She’s confident Meyer is the right person for the job.

“She’s such a great role model,” Behringer said. “Some little girl might say, ‘Wow, that could be me someday.'”

Meyer said she’s proud of her work in the First Judicial District and has loved every day she’s served in North Idaho.

“I’m really proud of the people I work with and the work we do to meet people where they are,” she said. “We work with people who are suffering from addiction and other issues that make it difficult for them and we endeavor always to treat people with the utmost respect and with compassion while at the same time endeavoring to hold them accountable.”

Being entrusted with a seat on the Supreme Court is an honor, Meyer said.

“What I hope to accomplish is to follow the rule of law and to continue the great work done by the Idaho Supreme Court,” she said.