Idaho Supreme Court Chief Justice G. Richard Bevan will retire this October after nearly two decades on the state’s highest court, according to judicial sources. The 68-year-old jurist, who has served as chief justice since 2021, notified Governor Brad Little’s office of his decision this week.
Bevan’s retirement will create the first vacancy on Idaho’s five-member Supreme Court since 2020. Court analysts note his departure comes during a period of heightened scrutiny over judicial appointments nationwide. “This opens a critical seat in a state where judicial elections have become increasingly politicized,” said University of Idaho law professor Margaret Thompson.
Appointed to the court in 2007 by then-Governor Dirk Kempthorne, Bevan authored landmark decisions on water rights and legislative redistricting. His tenure as chief justice saw the implementation of pandemic-era remote proceedings and a statewide e-filing system. “Justice Bevan modernized our courts while maintaining strict constitutional principles,” said a spokesperson for the Idaho State Bar.
The Judicial Council will now convene to recommend potential successors to Governor Little. Political observers suggest the appointment could become contentious, with conservative groups already signaling they’ll pressure for an originalist nominee. The new justice would face retention elections in 2026.