STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
Twin Falls County Magistrate Judge Roger B. Harris finds himself in an unusual position.
He’s had to come out from behind the judge’s desk to campaign for himself.
Harris is running for the position of judge for the Fifth Judicial District, an area that includes Blaine, Camas, Gooding, Jerome, Twin Falls, Cassia and Minidoka counties.
It’s rare that anyone runs for election to that position. But the decision was handed to voters following the death of longtime District Judge Randy Stoker.
Typically when a district judge seat opens, the Judicial Council solicits applicants to fill the seat. The governor then interviews finalists before appointing one.
But the timing of Stoker’s death was such that state officials didn’t think they could appoint a replacement before candidates would have had to file to run in May 15 election. And so they opened it up to anyone interested in going through the campaigning process.
“It’s rare to have to run in a contested election for this position. Now I’m having to go out in public and saying, ‘I’m right person for the job!’” said Harris.
Squaring off against Harris is adjudication hearing officer Theodore Booth, who was a hearing officer in the Snake River Basin Adjudication. Also, Twin Falls public defense attorney Samuel Beus, a graduate of Brigham Young University. And, finally, private practice attorney David Gadd, who has focused on such civil litigation issues as land issues, employment law issues and personal injury law.
Harris, a graduate of Idaho State University, earned his law degree at the University of Idaho in Moscow, having gone to school with local Magistrate Judge Jennifer Haemmerle.
He made the journey to Hailey this past week to post campaign signs, which he promises he has mapped so he can be sure to remove them.
While here, Dr. Glen and Vicki Shapiro opened their home to him for a small meet and greet at the request of Twin Fall builder Forrest LeBaron, who is building a second home across the street from them.
“I’ve met few people in my life as trustworthy and fair as Roger,” said LeBaron.
Harris has been a magistrate judge since 2005, practicing civil and criminal law in Twin Falls before that. During that time he served as a deputy prosecuting attorney and public defender for the city of Twin Falls.
He couldn’t answer a lot of questions put to him, noting that his role as a judge prohibits him from taking positions on a lot of issues.
But he said the experience he’s gained in both civil and criminal law is an asset given the complexity of the issues that come before the Fifth District Court. And he said he is already familiar with the challenges of serving on the bench.
Out of 26,500 cases in the past 10 years, only a hundred have been appealed. And less than 20 of those had something that needed to be corrected.
“It’s a pretty fast-paced docket. I’ve had as many as 150 hearings in a single day,” said Harris, who recently celebrated his 35th wedding anniversary. “Not all of those are super complex but they’re still time consuming. It’s important to treat everyone who comes before you with respect. I believe in transparency, upholding the integrity of the process.”
He paused looking around at those in the room.
“I’m just humbled you’re here listening to me.”