Toy Brigade Fundraiser with the Boise Fire Fighters #149

The Boise Firefighters Local #149 and the Idaho Chapter of the Federal Bar Association organized a Toy Brigade, and collected donations of toiletries and/or monetary contributions that assisted families staying at the Ronald McDonald House and the Boise Rescue Mission. The purpose of this event is to support sick or homeless children and their families in the city of Boise.

This is a really special program — a week prior to Christmas, fire fighters dressed up as Santa and his Merry Elf – and a team of fire fighters and FBA members drove around on a very special fire engine, horns tooting, and personally delivering gifts to the children; and toiletries to families in need at the Ronald McDonald House of Boise, the Children’s Hospital at St. Luke’s Downtown, the Children’s Hospital at St. Alphonsus, and the Women and Children’s Shelter at the Boise Rescue Mission. Collections were received at the offices of FBA members including Parsons Behle & Latimer; Manweiler Breen Ball & Davis; Elam & Burke; the Law Office of Ernest Hoidal; and the University of Idaho College of Law Student Chapter.

12th Annual FBA Tri-State Conference, Sun Valley, Idaho

The FBA’s Tri-State Conference is an annual conference addressing a wide range of timely topics that rotates among the world-renowned resort towns of Sun Valley, Idaho; Park City, Utah; and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It was started twelve years ago by Chief Judges (at that time) Dee Benson (Utah), Bill Downes (Wyoming), and Lynn Winmill (Idaho) with the objective of discussing issues that affect western states and providing opportunities for the members of the three FBA chapters to meet fellow federal practitioners.

The Idaho Chapter played host this past October in Sun Valley, where we were fortunate to have 16 federal judges in attendance, including FBA President Michael Newman, who served as the keynote luncheon speaker.

The Conference began with an interactive program on proportionality, where panelists (Chief Judge Nancy Freudenthal (Wyoming), Chief Judge B. Lynn Winmill (Idaho), Magistrate Judge Evelyn Furse (Utah), Magistrate Judge Kelly Rankin (Wyoming), and Steve Andersen, partner, Andersen Schwartzman Woodard and Brailsford (Idaho), guided round-table discussions regarding the new discovery protocols, the importance of applying the rules, and the impact these changes have on the duty to preserve evidence.

A bankruptcy panel featured Chief Bankruptcy Judge Terry L. Myers (Idaho), Chief Bankruptcy Judge Casey D. Parker (Wyoming), Bankruptcy Judge Joel Marker (Utah), and Larry Prince, partner, Holland & Hart (Idaho). The panelists discussed various hot bankruptcy topics, including the impact of U.S. Supreme Court decisions on the ability of a bankruptcy court to enter final judgments. Both Ninth and Tenth Circuit Court bankruptcy issues were addressed.

Other panels included lively discussions surrounding Intellectual Property and recent developments in IP Litigation with retired Chief Judge of the U.S Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Randall Rader, Senior District Judge Dee Benson (Utah), Teague Donahey, Of Counsel, Holland & Hart (Boise), and Dana Herberholz, shareholder, Parsons Behle & Latimer (Idaho).

Judge Candy Wagahoff Dale (Idaho) moderated a panel on Federal Land Management Conflicts, and issues surrounding the Malheur Refuge Occupation. Videos were shown with comments from all sides of the issues, rounding out great discussions on recent conflicts and efforts to transfer management to state or private control. The panel examined the Hammond case, which led to the Malheur Refuge Occupation and Standoff in Oregon. In addition to Judge Dale were United States Attorney John Huber (Utah), Professor John Freemuth, Boise State University (Idaho), and Alan Schroeder, partner, Schroeder & Lezamiz Law Offices, (Idaho).

At the conference, FBA member Dan Williams was recognized by President Walt Sinclair, as this year’s Exemplary Service Award Recipient for the Idaho Chapter. FBA President Michael Newman was the keynote luncheon speaker where he provided an overview of his initiatives for the FBA including the SOLACE program and civics education.

Another panel featured Senior Judges David Sam and Dale Kimball (both from Utah), Judge Kelly Rankin (Wyoming) and Matthew Lalli, partner, Snell & Wilmer (Utah), discussing behavior by counsel during trials that was ineffective and unethical. The panel also provided scenarios it felt captured jurors’ attention.

On Saturday morning, a fascinating criminal program was held by Judge Paul Warner (Utah), Rafael Gonzalez, First Assistant, U.S. Attorney (Idaho), and Scott Wilson, Assistant Federal Public Defender (Utah). The United States has the highest rate of incarceration of any nation in the world, and the nationwide cost to state and federal budgets was $90 billion in 2010. The panel provided an overview of their District’s focus on prevention, reentry, mental health, and Veterans Courts. Panelists agreed that to remain effective, federal courts should begin to focus on prevention and reentry courts, and use evidence-based strategies to curb the disturbing rates of recidivism by those reentering our communities.

The conference concluded with a panel of all the judges discussing practices they find to be effective and persuasive. As usual, this was the most highly attended portion of the program and we were delighted to have 10 federal judges join the panel, which was moderated by Idaho Chapter President J. Walter Sinclair. Topics ranged from best practices in federal court, judges’ individual preferences and case management in the three respective districts.

Next autumn, the Tri-State Conference will be held in Jackson Hole. It will present a great opportunity to learn from and interact with judges in the intermountain west. We hope to see you there!

Download the Program Agenda, Presenter Bios and CLE Program Materials


(l to r): Judge Paul Warner (Utah); Chief Judge B. Lynn Winmill (Idaho); J. Walter Sinclair, President, Idaho Chapter; and Judge Michael Newman, President, Federal Bar Association
(l to r) Chief Judge Nancy Freudenthal (Wyoming); Judge Kelly Rankin (Wyoming); Judge Casey Parker (BK, Wyoming); and Magistrate Judge Evelyn Furse (Utah)
(l to r): Marcus Johnson; Judge Michael Newman, President, Federal Bar Association; Colt Catlin, President, University of Idaho Student Chapter; and Katie Ball
(l to r): Marcus Johnson; Judge Candy Dale (Idaho); and Colt Catlin
(l to r): Kristin Hoff Sinclair; J. Walter Sinclair, President, Idaho Chapter; Ron Kerl; Deborah Ferguson; Rick Ferguson; and Dan Williams
(l to r): Bob Sykes; Judge Dale Kimball (Utah); Judge William Thurman (Utah); and Judge Joel Marker (Utah)
(l to r): Judge Kelly Rankin (Wyoming); Nickie Arney; and Rex Arney
(l to r): Craig Adamson, Dart Adamson & Donovan (Utah); and Rex Johnson, Shareholder, Parsons Behle & Latimer (Idaho)
(l to r): Susie Headlee, Executive Director, Idaho Chapter/Parsons Behle & Latimer; and Penny Anderson
(l to r): Randall L. Skeen, Cook, Skeen & Robinson (Utah); and Judge Dee Benson (Utah)


8th Annual Tri-State Conference

During the Federal Bar Association’s Tri-State Conference, which was held at Sun Valley, Idaho October 11-13, 2012, outgoing Executive Director Jack Lockridge was presented with an award of recognition for his 13 years of service to the Federal Bar Association and his efforts over the last eight years to help the Tri-State Conference move forward.

The Tri-State Conference is an annual meeting between the Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming Chapters of the Federal Bar Association. With speakers from the Ninth and Tenth District federal benches, the Conference is an excellent opportunity for federal lawyers in the Mountain West area to hear directly from sitting and retired judges on a variety of topics of interest to the current practice of federal law.

For more information on future Tri-State Conferences please email Susie Boring-Headlee.