Wayne L. Kidwell

Wayne LeRoy Kidwell (born June 15, 1938) is an American lawyer and jurist who is a retired Idaho Supreme Court justice, state attorney general, majority leader of the state senate. He was also an associate deputy attorney general in the administration of President Ronald Reagan. Early life and education Born in Council, Idaho, Kidwell graduated from Boise High School in 1956. He attended the University of Idaho in Moscow, was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, and graduated in 1960 with a degree in pre-law. He spent a year in law school and then went on active duty with the U.S. Army, as an officer in the military police in New Jersey and South Korea. After his military service, Kidwell returned to the UI and earned a J.D. from its College of Law. During law school, he served for a summer as an aide to U.S. Senator Len Jordan. Career After a few years representing insurance companies in Boise, Kidwell ran successfully for Ada County prosecutor. Two years later, Kidwell won a race for a seat in the Idaho Senate, and a year later became the majority leader. He ran for the congressional seat in 1972 that Jim McClure was vacating for the United States Senate, but lost in the Republican primary to Steve Symms and returned private legal practice for several years. Idaho Attorney General In 1974, Kidwell defeated incumbent Idaho Attorney General Tony Park. He served one four-year term and considered a run for governor in 1978, but withdrew from the race in August 1977; he returned campaign donations, telling Idaho voters that he was taking a sabbatical to travel with his family.