Four honored for judicial dedication
Justice Cynthia Meyer accepts the Idaho State Bar's Distinguished Jurist Award which recognizes excellence, integrity and independence by a member of the judiciary.
Courtesy photo
Several people, including a former First District Court judge, were honored earlier this month for their dedication to fair and timely justice for Idahoans.
Those honored were former First District judge Cynthia Meyer, now an Idaho Supreme Court justice; Seventh District Judge Darren Simpson; Tammie Whyte, trial court administrator for the Seventh District; and Ada County Magistrate Judge Andrew Ellis.
Simpson received the George C. Granata Jr. Professionalism Award, which honors a magistrate, district or senior judge who has gone above and beyond to ensure all Idahoans have access to fair and efficient justice. Whyte received the Douglas D. Kramer Award, which recognizes excellence in judicial administration through demonstrated character and action. Ellis received the Magistrate Judges Association's Legacy Award, created to recognize a judge’s dedicated and noteworthy leadership and service to their community, colleagues and citizens.
Meyer received the Idaho State Bar's Distinguished Jurist Award. This award recognizes excellence, integrity and independence by a member of the judiciary. Individuals are selected for their competence, fairness, goodwill and professionalism.
After beginning her career in Salt Lake City focused on civil litigation before moving to Coeur d'Alene in 2003. In addition to operating a business in the tourism industry with her husband, Meyer taught business law and paralegal classes at North Idaho College. Eventually returning to civil litigation, she was appointed a First District judge by Gov. Butch Otter in May 2015.
Meyer was appointed to the Idaho Supreme Court two years ago after a long career of public service and of dedication to the law. An attorney and, later, judge who also worked in the tourism industry, she played leadership roles in her North Idaho judicial district and statewide. As a justice, her work includes a focus on judicial and civic education.
“I have only ever endeavored to do the right thing, to do my best, to make the right decisions for the right reasons,” Justice Meyer said.