Crapo Introduces Amanda Brailsford as the Nominee for U.S. District Court in Idaho

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) today introduced Idaho Court of Appeals Judge Amanda K. Brailsford at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to consider her nomination to fill the open U.S. District Court judgeship in Idaho.

“When I reviewed candidates with Senator Risch, Judge Brailsford stood out as one who would likely adjudicate cases according to the Constitution and the law, consistent with established precedent,” Crapo said.  “Throughout her career, Judge Brailsford has demonstrated adherence to the Constitution and law as written and has earned the respect of her legal peers.  She has proven herself to be knowledgeable in law and procedure, an active participant in both the legal community and her local community, and an extremely qualified candidate for Idaho’s next District Judge.”

To watch the video, click HERE or the image above.

Judge Brailsford is an Idaho native from Hagerman.  She attended the University of Idaho, where she received an undergraduate degree in English, cum laude, in 1989 and her Juris Doctorate, summa cum laude, in 1993.  She served as a law clerk for Judge Thomas G. Nelson on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 1993 to 1995.  Judge Brailsford worked at Holland & Hart LLP as an associate from 1995 to 2002 and as a partner from 2003 to 2013.  In 2013, she became a founding partner at Andersen Banducci PLLC in Boise, Idaho.  She has served on the Idaho Court of Appeals since 2019.

Judge Brailsford was nominated in January by President Biden to fill the open U.S. District Court judgeship in Idaho.  The Judiciary Committee will hold a vote on her nomination before advancing it to the full Senate, although a date has not yet been announced.

Below is the full text of Senator Crapo’s introduction.

Chairman Durbin, Ranking Member Graham, and members of the Senate Judiciary Committee: Thank you for letting me speak in support of the nominee to be Idaho’s next United States District Judge, Amanda Brailsford.  Judge Brailsford represents the best our state has to offer, and I hope you will be able to support her nomination during this process.

Judge Brailsford hails from Hagerman, and is an Idaho native through and through.  She received both her undergraduate degree and her juris doctorate from the University of Idaho, graduating summa cum laude from UI for her law degree in 1993.  Judge Brailsford clerked for the Honorable Thomas Nelson of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit shortly afterward. 

After her clerkship, Brailsford worked in private practice with Holland and Hart in Boise, first as an associate and then as a partner, from 1995 to 2013.  As partner, she handled matters related to agricultural, product liability and corporate law, while also working as the hiring partner.  In 2013, she became a founding partner of Andersen Banducci PLLC in Boise, focusing on matters related to complex corporate, environmental and antitrust law, while also managing all aspects of the firm. 

In November 2018, Governor Butch Otter appointed her to the Idaho Court of Appeals; she assumed office in 2019 and was reelected in May 2020. 

Judge Brailsford has been admitted before the Idaho State Bar, the United States District Court for the District of Idaho (the court for which she is currently nominated), and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. 

Outside of her employment, Judge Brailsford and her husband have been married for more than twenty years, and they have three children.  Beyond her employment, she served on the Idaho Supreme Court Evidence Rules Advisory Committee from 2016-2019, and has been an active volunteer with local swim teams in Boise.

When I reviewed candidates with Senator Risch, Judge Brailsford stood out as one who would likely adjudicate cases according to the Constitution and the law, consistent with established precedent. 

Throughout her career, Judge Brailsford has demonstrated adherence to the Constitution and law as written and has earned the respect of her legal peers. 

She has proven herself to be knowledgeable in law and procedure, an active participant in both the legal community and her local community, and an extremely qualified candidate for Idaho’s next District Judge. 

I thank you for this opportunity to speak on her behalf, and urge your support for Amanda Brailsford’s nomination

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