Horton seeks another term on Supreme Court
DAVID COLE/Staff writer | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 11 years, 8 months AGO
COEUR d'ALENE - Idaho Supreme Court Justice Joel Horton said he is running on his record in public service.
"I have been an impartial jurist for the past 20 years and look forward to continuing to serve Idaho's citizens," said Horton, who spent two years as a magistrate, 11 years as a district court judge and seven years on the Supreme Court.
"It's the best job I've had in my legal career," Horton said.
In Coeur d'Alene for Supreme Court business on Tuesday, Horton stopped by The Press to discuss his campaign for re-election. His race against challenger William "Breck" Seiniger, of Boise, will be decided in next month's primary.
"I believe the role of a judge, whether on the trial bench or in an appellate capacity, is to uphold the Idaho and United States' constitutions and the laws of this state," Horton said. "I do not decide cases based upon my personal feelings as to what the law ought to be."
He said policy determinations are best left to the other branches of government.
Horton has endorsements from Gov. Butch Otter, Secretary of State Ben Ysursa, state Rep. Frank Henderson, and Democratic gubernatorial candidate A.J. Balukoff, among others.
"His insightful legal scholarship, keen intelligence, integrity and independence make him a great asset to the court," Otter said in a press release announcing Horton's re-election campaign.
Horton, 54, was born in Nampa and currently lives in Boise.
He is a graduate of the University of Idaho's law school. He was among the class of 1985, along with Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh. The two remain friends.
Horton was a prosecutor in Twin Falls and Ada counties and was a deputy attorney general.
He began his career in a small law firm in Lewiston.
Former Gov. Phil Batt appointed Horton to serve as a district judge starting in 1996. Otter appointed Horton to the Supreme Court in 2007.
He said he enjoys the challenge of being a Supreme Court justice, and working with the other justices.
"Every case that we hand down has the effect, to a certain extent, of leading to decision making that has an influence in the real economy out there," Horton said.
Fellow Supreme Court Justice Warren E. Jones is also up for re-election, but he is running unopposed.
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