Wayne L. Kidwell
Encyclopedia
Wayne L. Kidwell is a retired Idaho Supreme Court
justice and a former Idaho state attorney general who also has served as an Idaho state senator and an associate deputy general in the administration of President Ronald Reagan
.
, graduated from the University of Idaho
in 1960 with a degree in pre-law. He spent one year in law school and then took a break to go on active duty with the U.S. Army. He served in New Jersey and South Korea.
Kidwell earned a law degree from the University of Idaho. During law school, he served for a summer as an aide to U.S. Sen. Len Jordan
.
prosecutor and won. Two years later, Kidwell won a race for a seat in the Idaho Senate
. One year later, Kidwell became the majority leader of the Idaho Senate
and then in 1972, he ran for the U.S. congressional seat that Rep. Jim McClure
was vacating. Kidwell lost in the primary and went back into private legal practice for several years.
in 1994 against incumbent Justice Cathy Silak and lost. Four years later, Kidwell ran again for a different seat and won.
Kidwell retired from the Idaho Supreme Court at the end of his term in January 2005.
Idaho Supreme Court
The Idaho Supreme Court is the state supreme court of the state of Idaho, composed of the chief justice and four associate justices.The decisions of the Idaho Supreme Court are binding on all other Idaho state courts.The only court that may reverse or modify its decisions is the Supreme Court of...
justice and a former Idaho state attorney general who also has served as an Idaho state senator and an associate deputy general in the administration of President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
.
Early life and education
Born in Council, IdahoCouncil, Idaho
Council is a city in and the county seat of Adams County, Idaho, United States. The population was 839 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Council is located at ....
, graduated from the University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
in 1960 with a degree in pre-law. He spent one year in law school and then took a break to go on active duty with the U.S. Army. He served in New Jersey and South Korea.
Kidwell earned a law degree from the University of Idaho. During law school, he served for a summer as an aide to U.S. Sen. Len Jordan
Leonard B. Jordan
Leonard Beck "Len" Jordan was the 23rd Governor of Idaho and United States Senator from Idaho.Jordan served in World War I as an Army officer. He was a sheep rancher in Hell's Canyon during the Great Depression...
.
Professional career
After a few years representing insurance companies, Kidwell ran for Ada CountyAda County, Idaho
Ada County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 Census, the county had a population of 392,365. The county seat and largest city is Boise, which is also the state capital. Other cities in the county with over 10,000 residents include Meridian, Eagle,...
prosecutor and won. Two years later, Kidwell won a race for a seat in the Idaho Senate
Idaho Senate
The Idaho Senate is the upper chamber of the Idaho State Legislature. It consists of 35 Senators elected to two-year terms, each representing a district of the state. The Senate meets at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise, Idaho.-Composition of the Senate:...
. One year later, Kidwell became the majority leader of the Idaho Senate
Idaho Senate
The Idaho Senate is the upper chamber of the Idaho State Legislature. It consists of 35 Senators elected to two-year terms, each representing a district of the state. The Senate meets at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise, Idaho.-Composition of the Senate:...
and then in 1972, he ran for the U.S. congressional seat that Rep. Jim McClure
James A. McClure
James Albertus "Jim" McClure was an American politician from the state of Idaho, most notably serving as a Republican in the U.S. Senate....
was vacating. Kidwell lost in the primary and went back into private legal practice for several years.
Idaho Attorney General
In 1974, Kidwell defeated incumbent Idaho Attorney General Tony Park. He served one term, stepping down in 1978. Although Kidwell considered running for governor in 1980, he withdrew from the election and returned campaign donations, telling Idaho voters that he was taking a sabbatical. He the moved his family to Hawaii.Federal service
After joining a notable firm in Hawaii as a partner, Kidwell in 1982 was appointed U.S. associate deputy attorney general, and he represented the Republic of the Marshall Islands as its appointed attorney general. He served for several years in that capacity.Idaho Supreme Court
After returning to Idaho and working in private practice for close to a decade, Kidwell ran for Idaho Supreme CourtIdaho Supreme Court
The Idaho Supreme Court is the state supreme court of the state of Idaho, composed of the chief justice and four associate justices.The decisions of the Idaho Supreme Court are binding on all other Idaho state courts.The only court that may reverse or modify its decisions is the Supreme Court of...
in 1994 against incumbent Justice Cathy Silak and lost. Four years later, Kidwell ran again for a different seat and won.
Kidwell retired from the Idaho Supreme Court at the end of his term in January 2005.