Amanda Brailsford

{{Infobox judge

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Amanda Brailsford

| honorific-suffix =

| image = Amanda K. Brailsford, U.S. District Court Judge.jpg

| image_size = 210px

| caption =

| alt =

| office = Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Idaho

| term_start = May 17, 2023

| term_end =

| appointer = Joe Biden

| predecessor = B. Lynn Winmill

| successor =

| office1 = Judge of the Idaho Court of Appeals

| term_start1 = January 2019

| term_end1 = May 17, 2023

| appointer1 = Butch Otter

| predecessor1 = Sergio Gutierrez

| successor1 = Michael Tribe

| pronunciation =

| birth_name = Amanda Kathleen Brailsford

| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1967}}

| birth_place = Twin Falls, Idaho, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| death_cause =

| party =

| spouse =

| residence =

| education = University of Idaho (BA, JD)

}}

Amanda Kathleen Brailsford (born 1967){{cite web|url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Brailsford%20SJQ%20Public.pdf|title=Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees|publisher=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|access-date=March 21, 2023}} is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Idaho. She previously served as a judge of the Idaho Court of Appeals from 2019 to 2023.

Education

Born in Twin Falls, Idaho, Brailsford grew up in Hagerman.{{Cite web |title=Hon. Judge Amanda K. Brailsford |url=https://isc.idaho.gov/main/judge_brailsford |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130031230/https://isc.idaho.gov/main/judge_brailsford |archive-date=November 30, 2022 |access-date=January 18, 2023 |website=isc.idaho.gov}} She received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Idaho in Moscow in 1989 and a Juris Doctor from its College of Law in 1993.{{Cite web |title=Hon. Amanda Kathleen Brailsford Profile |url=https://www.martindale.com/attorney/hon-amanda-kathleen-brailsford-896976/ |access-date=January 18, 2023 |website=www.martindale.com}}{{Cite press release |title=President Biden Names Twenty–Ninth Round of Judicial Nominees |date=January 18, 2023 |publisher=The White House |location=Washington, D.C. |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/01/18/president-biden-names-twenty-ninth-round-of-judicial-nominees/ |access-date=January 18, 2023}} {{PD-notice}}

Career

Following law school, Brailsford served as a law clerk for Judge Thomas G. Nelson of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 1993 to 1995. She worked at the Boise office of Holland & Hart LLP as an associate from 1995 to 2002, and as a partner from 2003 to 2013. She was a founding partner of the law firm of Andersen Banducci PLLC from 2013 to 2017.

= Idaho Court of Appeals =

On November 30, 2018, Brailsford was appointed as a judge of the Idaho Court of Appeals by Governor Butch Otter to the seat vacated by the retirement of Judge Sergio Gutierrez.{{Cite web |date=November 30, 2018 |title=Moeller appointed to Supreme Court, Brailsford picked for Court of Appeals |url=https://www.idahostatejournal.com/news/local/moeller-appointed-to-supreme-court-brailsford-picked-for-court-of-appeals/article_de53c5ff-4b13-54a4-9a7f-975d763e2c69.html |access-date=January 18, 2023 |website=Idaho State Journal |language=en}} She assumed office in 2019 and left in 2023 to become a federal judge.

== Notable rulings ==

In 2022, Brailsford wrote the opinion for the Idaho Court of Appeals affirming an aggravated DUI conviction for Cyrus Buehler. Buehler was accused of being intoxicated while driving his pickup truck that struck a man operating a motorized bicycle.{{cite web|url=https://www.idahostatejournal.com/news/local/man-charged-with-felony-dui-for-striking-cyclist-to-plead-guilty-will-likely-file-appeal/article_bb754403-6b2b-58bc-b868-a24b2924f232.html#:~:text=Cyrus%20Wolf%20Buehler%2C%2037%2C%20through%20his%20Pocatello%20attorney%2C,to%20defend%20against%20the%20accusations%2C%20court%20records%20say|title=Man charged with felony DUI for striking cyclist to plead guilty, will likely file appeal|date=27 February 2020 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.idahostatejournal.com/news/local/family-of-severely-injured-bicyclist-says-hospital-plans-to-discharge/article_47aef510-583a-593a-961c-c34bc0091762.html|title=Family of severely injured bicyclist says hospital plans to discharge him prematurely|date=6 February 2018 }}https://isc.idaho.gov/opinions/48172.pdf

Also that year, Brailsford wrote the opinion for the court affirming Shoshone County Sheriff Darrell Gunderson's decision to deny a concealed weapons license to Robert Peterson. Gunderson disqualified Peterson due to his prior conviction of possessing material sexually exploiting children.{{cite web|url=https://vettingroom.org/2023/02/16/judge-amanda-brailsford/|title=Judge Amanda Brailsford – Nominee to the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho|date=16 February 2023}}https://isc.idaho.gov/opinions/48781.pdfhttps://isc.idaho.gov/opinions/48781summ.pdf

= Federal judicial service =

On January 18, 2023, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Brailsford to serve as a United States district judge of the U.S. District Court in Idaho.{{Cite web |last=Vazquez |first=Maegan |date=January 18, 2023 |title=First on CNN: Biden releases first slate of 2023 judicial nominees |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/18/politics/biden-judicial-nominees-2023/index.html |access-date=January 18, 2023 |website=CNN |language=en}} On January 31, 2023, her nomination was sent to the United States Senate. President Biden nominated Brailsford to the seat vacated by Judge B. Lynn Winmill, who assumed senior status on August 16, 2021.{{Cite press release|title=Nominations Sent to the Senate|date=January 31, 2023|publisher=The White House|location=Washington, D.C.|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/01/31/nominations-sent-to-the-senate-94/}} On March 22, 2023, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.{{Cite web|title=Nominations|date=March 21, 2023|publisher=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|location=Washington, D.C.|url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-activity/hearings/03/22/2023/nominations}} On April 27, 2023, her nomination was reported out of committee by a voice vote.{{cite web|url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2023-04-27%20-%20EBM%20-%20Results.pdf|title=Results of Executive Business Meeting – April 27, 2023|publisher=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|accessdate=May 1, 2023}}{{Cite press release|title=Idaho Senators Applaud Judiciary Committee Approval of Judge Amanda Brailsford|url=https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/idaho-senators-applaud-judiciary-committee-approval-of-judge-amanda-brailsford}} On May 4, 2023, the United States Senate confirmed her nomination by a voice vote.{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/118th-congress/286|title=PN286 — Amanda K. Brailsford — The Judiciary|date=January 31, 2023|website=congress.gov|access-date=May 4, 2023}} Brailsford received her judicial commission on May 17, 2023,{{FJC Bio|nid=13623536|inline=yes}} and was sworn in on May 19, 2023.{{Cite news|date=May 19, 2023|last=Kwan|first=Cory|title=Judge Amanda K. Brailsford becomes Idaho's 13th and first female US District Judge|url=https://www.kivitv.com/news/political/inside-the-statehouse/judge-amanda-k-brailsford-becomes-idahos-13th-and-first-female-us-district-judge|website=kivitv.com|access-date=May 26, 2023}} She is the first woman to serve on the U.S. District Court in Idaho.{{Cite news|last=Crawley|first=John|title=Brailsford Confirmed as First Female US Trial Judge in Idaho|url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/brailsford-confirmed-in-historic-vote-for-idaho-judiciary|website=news.bloomberglaw.com|date=May 6, 2023}}

== Notable cases ==

In Creech v. United States District Court for the District of Idaho, Brailsford received calls to recuse herself from a lawsuit brought by death row inmate Thomas Eugene Creech alleging prosecutorial fabrication of evidence.{{cite web |last1=Rodriguez |first1=Richard | url=https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/district-court-appeals-removes-federal-judge-creech-case-failing-recuse-herself/277-3cf0861e-50eb-4b10-a4ce-04cc05221552 | title=9th Circuit Court of Appeals removes federal judge in Creech case after failing to recuse herself | website=KTVB7 | date=October 17, 2024 |access-date=October 20, 2024}} Brailsford had a close personal friendship with Ada County Prosecutor Jan Bennetts, whose office oversaw the prosecution of Creech for the 1981 murder of inmate David Dale Jenson.{{cite web |last1=Jacobsen |first1=Kate | url=https://www.kivitv.com/news/federal-judge-removed-from-thomas-creech-case-new-appeal-filed | title=Federal judge removed from Thomas Creech case, new appeal filed | website=KIVI-TV | date=October 18, 2024 |access-date=October 20, 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Zoppo |first1=Avalon | url=https://www.law.com/nationallawjournal/2024/10/17/clear-abuse-of-discretion-9th-circuit-says-judge-should-have-recused-from-death-row-inmates-lawsuit/?slreturn=20241020135721 | title='Clear Abuse of Discretion': 9th Circuit Says Judge Should Have Recused From Death Row Inmate's Lawsuit | website=Law.com | date=October 17, 2024 |access-date=October 20, 2024}} While previously having clerked with and developed a friendship with Bennetts under Judge Thomas G. Nelson in 1993, Brailsford justified her lack of recusal by saying the two had "lost touch".{{cite web |last1=Raymond |first1=Nate | url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/idaho-judge-removed-death-row-inmates-case-over-friendship-with-prosecutor-2024-10-17/ | title=Idaho judge removed from death-row inmate's case over friendship with prosecutor | website=Reuters | date=October 17, 2024 |access-date=October 20, 2024}} Writing for a three judge panel for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Jay Bybee determined that, while Brailsford likely would have been able to hear the case in good faith, her impartiality would have been reasonably questioned due to the unique circumstances of the case, ultimately supporting her removal from the case.{{cite web |last1=Thomsen |first1=Jacqueline | url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/judges-ties-to-prosecutor-spurs-removal-from-death-row-lawsuit | title=Judge's Ties to Prosecutor Spurs Removal From Death-Row Lawsuit | website=Bloomberg Law | date=October 17, 2024 |access-date=October 20, 2024}}