Charles McDevitt Receives UI's Legal Merit Award
Thursday, June 27 2002
June 29, 2002^ MOSCOW – Judge Charles F. McDevitt, a 1956 graduate of the University of Idaho College of Law and a former Chief Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court, received UI's Faculty Award of Legal Merit at the recent College of Law Commencement ceremony.^ The award recognizes outstanding contributions of an Idaho law graduate whose career exemplifies integrity, competence, service and leadership as a legal practitioner, and through service to the profession, community, business, state or national interests.^ Public service is a cornerstone of Justice McDevitt’s career. He has served on numerous boards and committees dedicated to the well-being and education of Idaho’s youth. His work resulted in Le Bois Soccer Tournament Inc., a non-profit organization building a sports complex that is a sought-after soccer tournament site in Boise. ^McDevitt also has been involved in programs that educate youth about the law, including the YMCA Youth Government Program. He's been a member of the Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Task Force, American Inns of Court and the UI Foundation.^ Currently, he is a partner with McDevitt & Miller, LLP, a Boise law firm that he co-founded in 1997. He also was general counsel, secretary and vice president for Boise Cascade in the 1960s, was president of Beck Industries, a manufacturing and retailing firm in New York and later was an officer of the Singer Company.^ McDevitt was Ada County public defender in the late 70s, was active in local government as a state representative, was appointed to the Idaho Supreme Court in 1989 and was Chief Justice from 1993-97, when he retired.^ To law students about to embark on legal careers, he emphasizes honesty, preparation, and willingness to spend time and energy to be thorough. "People say there are a lot of lawyers, but I’ve always said there is room at the top for those really willing to work and apply themselves,” said McDevitt.^ McDevitt joins the ranks of recent UI Legal Merit Award recipients Judge Patricia Young, Judge Edward Lodge, Claude Marcus, Frank Schrontz, Bernice Bacharach, Howard Manweiler, and Weldon Schimke. The award has been given annually since the mid-1970s.^Contacts: UI College of Law, (208) 885-4977 or 885-5817, or Charles McDevitt, Boise office, (208) 343-7500^-30-^NH-6/29/02-LAW^
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