Bart Davis simply ideal for U.S. Attorney post
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 7 years, 7 months AGO
Have to give the twin devils of President Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions their proper due for their nomination of state Sen. Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, to be the next U.S. Attorney for Idaho.
With Davis they can’t go wrong. The 10-term Idaho Falls state senator and current Senate Majority Leader is one of Idaho’s outstanding legislators and one of the few true “super lawyers.” He is admired on both sides of the aisle for his probity, his sense of fairness, his courtliness as well as considerable intelligence and just plain decency.
He is a true compassionate conservative who lives and walks the talk of the Golden Rule. A few years back he and his wife showed up at a release hearing for an individual who had murdered their son. As heart-breaking as their son’s death was, they knew there were others who cared just as deeply for the perpetrator and was a case of another gone astray.
They intuitively recognized the truth contained in a statement by the great Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, who once wrote that “as great as God creating something out of nothing is, the even greater miracle is God creating saints out of sinners!” Rather than wallowing in grief, anger and a desire for retribution, the Davises followed the progress the perpetrator had made while imprisoned.
In an extraordinary gesture of true forgiveness, they showed up at the release hearing and testified that the assailant should be released and given probation. This incident is hard to imagine, but it speaks to the incredible humanity of Sen. Davis and his spouse, Marion.
As U.S. Attorney, Sen. Davis will be called upon to exercise surperb judgment on whether and when to bring lawsuits or convene grand jury panels. Solid, good judgment he has in abundance though and he will judiciously utilize it.
It should not be lost on folks that the U.S. Attorney has had a central role in several high profile cases in the last 40 years. Recall for example the standoff between Randy Weaver and the FBI at Ruby Ridge in northern Boundary County; or, that of Claude Dallas, and the murder of two Fish and Game employees in Owyhee County.
In the Weaver case, his attorney, “Gunning for Justice” Jerry Spence, danced circles around the U.S. Attorney and the prosecution team. It is a safe bet no one will dance circles around Bart Davis.
To his great credit, Davis is not a knee-jerk ideologue. He thinks through issues and takes stands based on principle, not political expediency. It is another safe bet he will conduct himself and see that his office performs in an entirely non-partisan manner.
A few years ago I was fortunate enough to sit next to Sen. Davis on a panel on politics being held at Idaho State University and sponsored by the Idaho State Journal. Davis’s thoughtful, cant-free responses were refreshing to say the least. I couldn’t help being impressed.
Here clearly was a legislator at the top of his game who knew what he was talking about, said what he thought and meant what he said. When the event was over, I’ll never forget his leaning over and saying he had to return to Idaho Falls to face four censure resolutions because Doyle Beck and the Bonneville County Republican Central Committee felt the good senator had not reflected their views on several issues.
Have legislators who think for themselves? Heavens no. Do people think this is a Republic rather than a Democracy? Beck and his ilk are saying they don’t want a Bart Davis to be a representative who studies and thinks; they want an automaton who does what they demand.
To his credit, Bart Davis stayed on the correct path he has always walked. He has to have welcomed the opportunity though to walk away while at the top of his game and to put all that game-playing, partisan crap behind him.
Have no doubts: His selection is a breath of fresh air and a well-deserved honor for one of the state’s fine public servants. Hats off to the president and his attorney general on this one.
Davis’ departure will of course set off a scramble to name his successor as Majority Leader and there’ll be an abundance of candidates. Early names being bandied about include Assistant Majority Leader and state Sen. Chuck Winder from Boise; Majority Caucus Chair, state Sen. Todd Lakey from Nampa; and state Sen. Marv Hagedorn from Meridian. A darkhorse surprise might be state Sen. Carl Crabtree from Grangeville.
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Chris Carlson is a longtime Idaho political writer who resides in Medimont.