University of Idaho Law Dean Donald L. Burnett to Head Task Force to Analyze Idaho Appellate Court
Tuesday, April 17 2007
April 17, 2007 Photo is available at www.today.uidaho.edu/PhotoList.aspx MOSCOW, Idaho – Donald L. Burnett, dean of the University of Idaho's College of Law, has been named chair of a new Idaho Supreme Court task force that will analyze the need for additional judges in Idaho's intermediate appellate court. Despite its burgeoning caseload, the three-member Court of Appeals has not increased the number of judges in nearly 20 years. With a caseload 250 percent greater than two decades ago, the state judiciary has initiated a study to determine long-term personnel needs and resources. Named "The Task Force of Idaho's Court of Appeals: The Next Quarter Century and Beyond," the panel was ordered by the Supreme Court to complete its study and make initial recommendations to the court no later than Sept. 14, 2007. The task force held its initial meeting at the Supreme Court in Boise on March 23. "I'm honored to join a group of distinguished judges, lawyers and public citizens in evaluating how a vitally important part of our state judiciary should respond to Idaho's growing caseload," said Burnett. "This is an example of the service a public law school at a land-grant university can provide." Burnett, along with now-Chief Justice Gerald Schroeder, was a driving force for the Court of Appeals in 1980, when the Idaho State Bar recommended the creation of such a court to handle an increasing appellate caseload. In 1982, Burnett was appointed by then-Governor John V. Evans to serve on the newly formed Idaho Court of Appeals. In addition to serving on the Court of Appeals, Burnett has served as: clerk to the Chief Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court; a practicing lawyer; Idaho State Bar president; assistant attorney general for the state of Idaho; and as an educator and administrator, serving as dean of the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville in Kentucky before accepting the dean’s post at the University of Idaho in 2002. Burnett recently earned the Idaho State Bar's Professionalism Award. The award recognizes demonstrated and uncommon devotion to public service, the improvement of the administration of justice and a career-long demonstration of diligence, ability, civility, integrity and dignity. Burnett earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University; a juris doctorate from the University of Chicago; a master of laws degree (L.L.M.) from the University of Virginia; and graduated on the Commandant’s List from the Command and General Staff College of the U.S. Army. Other task force members include: Idaho Supreme Court Justice Roger S. Burdick; Chief Court of Appeals Judge Darrel R. Perry; Administrative Director of the Courts Patti Tobias; State Senator Denton Darrington; State Representative Jim Clark; First Judicial District Judge John P. Luster; Fourth Judicial District Judge Joel D. Horton; Coeur d'Alene attorney John Magnuson; Lewiston's Department of Health and Welfare attorney Marcy Spilker; Lewiston attorney Mike McNichols; Idaho Falls attorneys Tim Hopkins and Katherine Moriarty; Idaho State Bar Board of Commissioners President Thomas A. Banducci; Albertson College of Idaho professor Kerry Hunter; State Appellate Public Defender Molly Huskey; and Idaho Attorney General Lawrence G. Wasden. -30- About the University of Idaho Founded in 1889, the University of Idaho is the state’s flagship higher-education institution and its principal graduate education and research university, bringing insight and innovation to the state, the nation and the world. University of Idaho researchers attract more than $100 million in research grants and contracts each year; the university is the only institution in Idaho to earn the prestigious Carnegie Foundation ranking for high research activity. The university’s student population includes first-generation college students and ethnically diverse scholars. Its high academic performers include 42 National Merit Scholars and a 2006-07 freshman class with an average high school grade point average of 3.42. Offering more than 150 degree options in 10 colleges, the university combines the strengths of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu. Contact: Joni Kirk, University Communications, (208) 885-7725, joni@uidaho.edu,/i> JK-4/17/07-LAW
About the University of Idaho
The University of Idaho helps students to succeed and become leaders. Its land-grant mission furthers innovative scholarly and creative research to grow Idaho's economy and serve a statewide community. From its main campus in Moscow, Idaho, to 70 research and academic locations statewide, U-Idaho emphasizes real-world application as part of its student experience. U-Idaho combines the strength of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. It is home to the Vandals. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.