Cathy Silak

Cathy R. Silak (born May 25, 1950)[2] is the former dean of the Concordia University School of Law in Boise, Idaho.[3] She is a former justice of the Idaho Supreme Court and the Idaho Court of Appeals.

Cathy Silak
Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court
In office
February 25, 1993 (1993-02-25) – January 2, 2001 (2001-01-02)
Appointed byGovernor Cecil Andrus
Preceded byRobert Bakes
Succeeded byDaniel Eismann
Idaho Court of Appeals
In office
September 1, 1990 – February 25, 1993
Appointed byGovernor Cecil Andrus
Preceded byDonald Burnett
Succeeded byKaren Lansing [1]
Personal details
Born (1950-05-25) May 25, 1950[2]
New York City, U.S.
Spouse(s)Nicholas G. Miller
Children1 son, 2 daughters
ResidenceBoise, Idaho
Alma materNew York University (B.A.)
University of California
(J.D. 1976)
ProfessionAttorney, Dean

Silak graduated from New York University in New York City with a B.A. in sociology and French literature, then attended the University of California in Berkeley, earning her J.D. in 1976 from its School of Law (Boalt Hall). After working in private practice in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. and as a U.S. attorney in New York City, she moved west to Idaho, her husband's home state, in 1983.[4]

At age 40, Silak was appointed by Governor Cecil Andrus to the Court of Appeals in August 1990, the first woman to serve on Idaho's second-highest court.[5][6][7] Less than three years later, she was elevated by Andrus to the state supreme court, succeeding Robert Bakes, and joined Linda Copple Trout as the first two women to serve on it.[8]

Silak retained her seat in the statewide election (57.7%) in May 1994,[9] defeating Wayne Kidwell,[2][10][11] a future colleague on the court.[12] Six years later,[13][14] she was unseated by Dan Eismann (58.6%) in May 2000,[10][15][16] the only defeat for an incumbent on the court since 1944.[17][18][19] The previous autumn, Silak wrote the 3–2 majority opinion that upheld an earlier decision on wilderness area water rights, siding with the federal government,[20] which became a key factor in the election campaign.[10][15][16]

After the supreme court, Silak was a partner with Hawley, Troxell, Ennis, & Hawley until 2004, when she became president and CEO of the Idaho Community Foundation, a statewide public charity based in Boise. Silak joined Concordia University's School of Law in 2008.

References
  1. "Andrus appoints another woman to appeals court". Idahonian. (Moscow). Associated Press. May 12, 1993. p. 4A.
  2. Warbis, Mark (May 25, 1994). "Silak defends her place on high court". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. (Idaho-Washington). Associated Press. p. 4A.
  3. Russell, Betsy Z. (June 8, 2015). "Silak: 'It's been a very exciting day'". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  4. "Cathy Silak". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). April 9, 2000. p. B10.
  5. "First woman joins Court of Appeals". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. August 3, 1990. p. B1.
  6. "Woman judge hopes role boosts others". Idahonian. (Moscow). Associated Press. August 3, 1990. p. 10A.
  7. Kenyon, Quane (August 29, 1990). "Appeals court greets first woman member". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. p. B1.
  8. Warbis, Mark (February 24, 1993). "Silak named new justice". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. (Idaho-Washington). Associated Press. p. 4A.
  9. "Primary election results". State of Idaho. May 24, 1994. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  10. "Justice faces unusual election challenge". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). staff & wire reports. April 24, 2000. p. A7.
  11. Kenyon, Quane (May 7, 1994). "Wayne Kidwell tries for a comeback as a relative unknown". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. (Idaho-Washington). Associated Press. p. 4A.
  12. "General election results". State of Idaho. November 3, 1998. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  13. "Supreme Court Justice Cathy Silak". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. (Idaho-Washington). (advertisement). May 22, 2000. p. 7A.
  14. Tanner, Robert (October 28, 2000). "Judges' campaigns turn into bitter, expensive affairs". Ludington Daily News. (Michigan). Associated Press. p. B4.
  15. Gaddy, Angie (April 9, 2000). "Supreme Court race has political feel". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. B1.
  16. Fick, Bob (May 24, 2000). "Silak loses to Eismann; A challenger unseats an Idaho Supreme Court justice". Lewiston Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  17. Warbis, Mark (January 3, 2001). "Newest Idaho justice wins praise at swearing-in". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. p. B1.
  18. "Otter emerges from GOP crowd in Idaho primary". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). May 24, 2000. p. B5.
  19. "Statewide judicial vote by county". State of Idaho. Secretary of State, Election Division. May 23, 2000. Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  20. "Supreme court upholds judge's wilderness ruling". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. (Idaho-Washington). Associated Press. October 2, 1999. p. 3A.
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