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Colleen Zahn
2021 - Present
2029
4
Colleen Zahn is a judge of the Idaho Supreme Court. She assumed office on July 1, 2021. Her current term ends on January 1, 2029.
Zahn ran for re-election for judge of the Idaho Supreme Court. She won in the general election on May 17, 2022.
Zahn became a member of the court by appointment. Gov. Brad Little (R) appointed Zahn on June 1, 2021, to replace Justice Roger Burdick, who retired on June 30, 2021.[1] To learn more about this appointment, click here.
Biography
Colleen Zahn earned a B.S. in communications and a J.D. from the University of Idaho in 1995 and 2000, respectively. Zahn's career experience includes working as the deputy attorney general with the Idaho Department of Correction and a senior associate attorney with Hall, Farley, Oberrecht, and Blanton.[2]
Appointments
Idaho Governor Brad Little (R) appointed Colleen Zahn to the Idaho Supreme Court on June 1, 2021. Zahn succeeded Roger Burdick, who retired on June 30, 2021. Zahn was Gov. Little's first nominee to the five-member supreme court.[3][4]
At the time of the vacancy, an interim judge was appointed by the governor from a list of two to four names provided by a nominating commission in the event of a midterm vacancy, under Idaho law. The judge would serve out the remainder of the unexpired term, after which they would have to run in a nonpartisan election to remain on the court.[5]
Elections
2022
See also: Idaho Supreme Court elections, 2022
General election
General election for Idaho Supreme Court
Incumbent Colleen Zahn won election in the general election for Idaho Supreme Court on May 17, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Colleen Zahn (Nonpartisan) | 100.0 | 221,658 |
| Total votes: 221,658 | |||
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Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Colleen Zahn did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
State supreme court judicial selection in Idaho
- See also: Judicial selection in Idaho
The five justices of the Idaho Supreme Court are elected in nonpartisan elections. They serve six-year terms, after which they must seek re-election if they wish to retain their seat. To learn more about these elections, visit the Idaho judicial elections page.[6]
Qualifications
To serve on the supreme court, a judge must:
- be at least 30 years old;
- be a U.S. citizen;
- be an Idaho resident for at least two years;
- be in good standing as an active or judicial member of the state bar for at least two years; and
- a licensed attorney for at least 10 years.[6]
Chief justice
The chief justice of the supreme court is selected by peer vote to serve a four-year term. [6]
Vacancies
If a midterm vacancy occurs on the court, an interim judge is appointed by the governor from a list of two to four names provided by a nominating commission. This judge will serve out the remainder of the unexpired term, after which he or she must run in a nonpartisan election to remain on the court.[6]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Big Country News, "Idaho Governor Brad Little Appoints Colleen Zahn to Idaho Supreme Court," June 1, 2021
- ↑ Linkedin, "Colleen Zahn," accessed July 7, 2021
- ↑ Idaho News 6, "Idaho Supreme Court justice Roger Burdick announces resignation," February 7, 2021
- ↑ Idaho, Office of the Governor, "Gov. Little appoints Colleen Zahn to Idaho Supreme Court," June 1, 2021
- ↑ American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Idaho," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 National Center for State Courts, "Methods of Judicial Selection," accessed September 14, 2021
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Federal courts:
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Idaho • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Idaho
State courts:
Idaho Supreme Court • Idaho Court of Appeals • Idaho District Courts • Idaho Magistrate Division
State resources:
Courts in Idaho • Idaho judicial elections • Judicial selection in Idaho
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