John Stegner

John R. Stegner (born November 8, 1953) is an American attorney and a former justice of the Idaho Supreme Court, retiring after five years in 2023. He was previously a state district court judge for over two decades.

John Stegner
Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court
In office May 22, 2018 – October 31, 2023
Appointed by	Butch Otter
Preceded by	Warren Jones
Succeeded by	Cynthia Meyer
Judge of the 2nd Judicial District Court of Idaho
In office 1997 – May 22, 2018
Appointed by	Phil Batt
Succeeded by	John Judge
Personal details
Born	(1953-11-08) November 8, 1953 (age 71) Grangeville, Idaho, U.S.
Spouse	Laurie Stegner
Children	3
Relatives	Joe Stegner (brother)
Education	Whitman College (BA) University of Idaho (JD)

Early life and education

Born and raised in Grangeville, Idaho, Stegner is the youngest of four sons of Charles and June Stegner.^[1][2] He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1977 from Whitman College and his Juris Doctor from the University of Idaho College of Law in 1982.^[3]

Career

Stegner was in private practice in Lewiston for twelve years with Clements, Brown & McNichols. He clerked for the late U.S. District Judge Harold Ryan for two years and worked for the family business, Stegner Grain & Seed Co.^[4]

State judicial service

Stegner was previously a judge of the state's second judicial district, based in Moscow. Appointed by Governor Phil Batt in November 1996,^[5] he served on the court from 1997 to 2018.^[4][6]

Idaho Supreme Court

In 2017, Stegner was considered for a vacancy on the state supreme court created by the retirement of Dan Eismann, but Governor Butch Otter appointed Richard Bevan in late August.^[4] Another vacancy soon arose with the sudden retirement of Warren Jones, and Otter appointed Stegner on May 22, 2018. He was selected from among four finalists named by the Idaho Judicial Council after public interviews with 14 applicants, including six sitting judges.^[4] Stegner was the only justice on the state's highest court from northern Idaho,^[7] and the first in several decades. He ran unopposed in the 2020 election, held during the state primary in the spring.

In May 2023, Stenger sent a letter to Governor Brad Little, announcing his upcoming retirement from the court on October 31 and his return to private practice.^[8][9]