Idaho’s newest federal district court judge was sworn in Tuesday after more than a year of delays. He’ll step right up to the bench and start taking cases.
President Donald Trump signed Judge David Nye’s commission letter Tuesday. That clears the way for Idaho’s first new federal district judge in over 22 years.
The 58-year-old was nominated to the federal court in 2016 by former President Barack Obama. He cleared a Senate committee but didn’t get a confirmation vote before Obama’s term was up. The Spokesman Reviewreports Nye was backed by Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch who asked President Trump to re-nominate him. The Senate unanimously confirmed Nye in July.
Nye takes over for U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge who announced in 2014 he planned to retire. That left one judge to handle the state’s entire caseload. The federal court system declared a judicial emergency in Idaho and judges from other states were brought in to hear some cases.
Nye took the oath during a private ceremony in Pocatello from 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge N. Randy Smith, who is Nye’s former law partner. A public ceremony will come at a later date.
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