Wayne L. Kidwell
Wayne L. Kidwell (born June 15, 1938) is a retired Idaho Supreme Court justice and a former Idaho state attorney general who also has served as an Idaho state senator and an associate deputy attorney general in the administration of President Ronald Reagan.
Early life and education
Born in Council, Idaho, graduated from the University of Idaho in 1960 with a degree in pre-law. He spent one year in law school and then took a break to go on active duty with the U.S. Army.[1] He served in New Jersey and South Korea.[1]
Kidwell earned a law degree from the University of Idaho.[1] During law school, he served for a summer as an aide to U.S. Sen. Len Jordan.[1]
Professional career
After a few years representing insurance companies, Kidwell ran for Ada County prosecutor and won.[1] Two years later, Kidwell won a race for a seat in the Idaho Senate.[1] One year later, Kidwell became the majority leader of the Idaho Senate and then in 1972, he ran for the U.S. congressional seat that Rep. Jim McClure was vacating. Kidwell lost in the primary and went back into private legal practice for several years.
Idaho Attorney General
In 1974, Kidwell defeated incumbent Idaho Attorney General Tony Park.[1] He served one term, stepping down in 1978. Although Kidwell considered running for governor in 1980, he withdrew from the election and returned campaign donations, telling Idaho voters that he was taking a sabbatical.[1] He then moved his family to Hawaii.[1]
Federal service
After joining a notable firm in Hawaii as a partner, Kidwell in 1982 was appointed U.S. associate deputy attorney general, and he represented the Republic of the Marshall Islands as its appointed attorney general.[1] He served for several years in that capacity.
Idaho Supreme Court
After returning to Idaho and working in private practice for close to a decade, Kidwell ran for Idaho Supreme Court in 1994 against incumbent Justice Cathy Silak and lost.[1] Four years later, Kidwell ran again for a different seat and won.[1]
Kidwell retired from the Idaho Supreme Court at the end of his term in January 2005.[1]