A U.S. Senate committee has voted unanimously to back the nomination of Pocatello judge David Nye to be Idaho’s next federal judge.
The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced to the full Senate Nye’s nomination for the second time in two years. He was previously nominated to the same position by then-President Obama in 2016 and approved unanimously by the Committee. However, Congress concluded without completing the confirmation process. President Trump recently re-nominated Nye at the request of Idaho U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch.
Idaho has been down to just one active U.S. District judge since longtime Judge Edward Lodge took senior status in July 2015. The federal court system has declared a judicial emergency in Idaho due to the shortage of judges, and visiting judges have been brought in from other states to hear cases.
Nye has served as a judge for Idaho’s Sixth Judicial District for nine years; he also has 20 years of experience in private practice litigation. In addition, Nye presides over a successful diversionary felony drug court program and serves in several roles as an advisor to the Idaho Supreme Court and the Idaho State Bar.
