The seven-member Idaho Judicial Council is interviewing candidates for an opening on the Idaho Supreme Court today. So far, the council has interviewed three this morning: 5^th District Judge Richard Bevan of Twin Falls; St. Maries attorney Andrew Doman; and Idaho Court of Appeals Judge Sergio Gutierrez.

At the close of his interview, Gutierrez told the council that he previously believed that the council’s appointment process was the best way to fill openings on the state’s highest court, but after running in an election in 2016 for an open Supreme Court position, Gutierrez said, “I’ve changed my mind.”

“I think Idaho really has the best system,” he said, with both appointment and election as ways for justices to be selected.

I’ll have more later on the interviews. Still up today are Twin Falls attorney David Hamilton; 7^th District Judge Greg Moeller of Rexburg; ACHD general counsel Steven Price; and Boise attorney Wade Woodard. Tomorrow, the council will interview Boise attorney Rebecca Rainey; 2^nd District Judge John Stegner of Moscow; Boise attorney Jeffrey Thomson; 7^th District Judge Joel Tingey of Idaho Falls; 3^rd District Judge Susan Wiebe of Fruitland; and 4^th District Judge Jason Scott of Boise.

The opening comes because of the planned August retirement of current Justice Daniel Eismann. The council will recommend a short list of the four finalists it deems the most qualified to Gov. Butch Otter, who will make the appointment; then, whoever is appointed will run for a full six-year term in the 2018 election, to begin in 2019.