Idaho Supreme Court held hearings at BYU-Idaho Thursday for 3 separate cases
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REXBURG – The Manwaring Center’s Grand Ballroom at Brigham Young University-Idaho was transformed into a courtroom Thursday morning while the Idaho Supreme Court was in session.
Hearings were held on three local cases, one of which revolved around Yellowstone Safari Park, a drive-thru “game ranch” in Rexburg similar to Yellowstone Bear World that opened in Sept. 2023 at 2246 West 4000 North.
The park’s status as a game ranch has been the focus of a lawsuit filed last year, which EastIdahoNews.com has covered in a previous story. In McInnes v. Madison County, Daniele McInnes and 53 other plaintiffs allege the park can’t be labeled as a game ranch because of the lack of definition in Madison County code. They also claim the park is running a commercial organization in an agricultural zone.
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They previously filed a petition for a judicial review, asking District Judge Steven Boyce to look at the county’s decision.
In March 2023, Boyce ruled the plaintiffs lacked standing because no final decision occurred that entitled them to seek judicial review. During Thursday’s hearing at BYU-Idaho, the plaintiffs’ attorney brought forth a motion to appeal Boyce’s decision. Attorneys representing the county and the park affirmed Boyce’s ruling.
Hearings on two other cases were held as well, which include Arellano v. Sunrise Homes and Bray v. IDJC.
Each hearing lasted about an hour. No final decisions were made on these cases. The Court will issue a written decision on each of them at a later date.
Following the proceedings, the justices held a Q&A for students and members of the community.
‘It is so great to be back’
The Supreme Court travels around the state four or five times a year to hold hearings, which is required in the Idaho Constitution. The purpose is to give the public a chance to see what it’s like and participate in the process. It also gives justices a chance to get to know and interact with the communities they serve.
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This is the court’s first visit to BYU-Idaho since June 2023 and its third visit to eastern Idaho in the last 18 months. Four of the five justices were present.
Bingham County District Court Judge Darren Simpson attended as a temporary fill-in on the final case. Bannock County District Judge Rick Carnaroli filled in for Justice Greg Moeller during the first case. Moeller had a conflict of interest and recused himself.
Moeller, who was first appointed to the Supreme Court by Gov. “Butch” Otter in 2019, is originally from Rexburg. He once practiced law with what is now Rigby Andrus & Rigby and taught a law course at BYU-I.
During Thursday’s Q & A, he told the crowd “it is so great to be back.”
“Waking up this morning, trying to jog in 19-degree weather — I think I was built of sterner stuff when I lived here. There’s a wussification that takes place when you move to Boise,” Moeller joked. “It was good to come back to my roots.”
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Moeller’s appointment marked the first time in 27 years Idaho had a Supreme Court Justice from the eastern side of the state. Prior to him, Larry Boyle of Pocatello served on the Supreme Court from 1989 to 1992. He passed away in 2017.
Similarly, Justice Cynthia Meyer, who was appointed by Gov. Brad Little last November to replace Justice John Stegner, also has ties to eastern Idaho. She’s lived most of her life in Coeur d’Alene, but graduated from Pocatello High School years ago before attending the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law in 1987.
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She’s visited eastern Idaho on occasion over the years.
Meyer tells EastIdahoNews.com her experience as the newest member of the Supreme Court has “really been wonderful.”
“I couldn’t work with a better group of people. We all get along very well … and every case that comes before us is interesting in its own way,” Meyer says.
On the Supreme Court bench, Meyer says you’re dealing with a case that’s right in front of you, which is a lot different from being a trial judge. Learning how her decisions on the state’s highest court can potentially impact other cases and have “unintended consequences” is enlightening, she says.
“It’s been a wonderful experience. It’s a lot of work. There’s a ton of reading … but I’ve loved every minute of it,” she says.
Meyer is one of three women currently serving on the Supreme Court. During a forum at BYU-Idaho Tuesday night, Moeller pointed out this is the first time in state history women have dominated the bench.
The Court will hear three cases at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls Friday morning before returning to Boise.