List of first minority male lawyers and judges in Idaho explained

This is a list of the first minority male lawyer(s) and judge(s) in Idaho. It includes the year in which they were admitted to practice law (in parentheses). Also included are other distinctions, such as the first minority men in their state to graduate from law school or become a political figure.

Firsts in Idaho's history

Lawyers

• First African American male to pass bar exam: Joseph R. Mitchem in 1908^[1]
• First African American male (admitted to Idaho State Bar): Reginald Ray Reeves (1952)^{[2] [3] [4] [5]}
• First Latino American male: Ernesto G. Sanchez (1973)^[6]

State judges

• First Latino American male: Sergio A. Gutierrez in 1993^{[7] [8] [9]}
• First Latino American male (Idaho Court of Appeals): Sergio A. Gutierrez in 2002
• First African American male: Dayo O. Onanubosi (1993) in 2009^[10]

• First Native American male (Pawnee Nation): Larry Echo Hawk from 1991-1995^[11]
• First Hispanic American male: Raúl Labrador in 2023^[12]

Firsts in local history

• Dayo O. Onanubosi (1993):^[13] First African American male appointed as a magistrate judge for Canyon County, Idaho (2009)
• Reginald Ray Reeves (1952): First African American male to graduate from the University of Idaho College of Law (1952) [Moscow County, Idaho]

See also

• List of first minority male lawyers and judges in the United States

Other topics of interest

• List of first women lawyers and judges in the United States
• List of first women lawyers and judges in Idaho

Notes and References

1. News: Joseph Mitchem Passes the Required Examination and Is Entitled to Practice in the Courts. June 26, 1908. Twin Falls News. 18.
2. Book: Smith, Jr., J. Clay. Emancipation: The Making of the Black Lawyer, 1844–1944. January 1, 1999. University of Pennsylvania Press. 0812216857.
3. Web site: A Timeline of Black History in Idaho. Idaho Legislature.
4. News: Local civil rights leader: People often forget Idaho's progressive history. KTVB. November 8, 2018. en-US.
5. Web site: A Message from the President – Ron Wilper. Wilper. Ron. ILHS Newsletter (Spring 2013).
6. Web site: Idaho . Access . 2023-09-05 . President’s Message: Lucky to Be an Idaho Lawyer . 2024-02-11 . State Bar . EN.
7. News: Idaho's first Latino judge, as he contemplates retirement: 'I contribute my grain of sand'. Russell. Betsy. Idaho Press. November 8, 2018. en.
8. News: Treasure Valley Spotlight: Sergio Gutierrez. Myrick. Brian. August 26, 2018. Idaho Press. en.
9. Web site: Idaho Court of Appeals justice to retire at end of year . 2022-05-03 . www.ksl.com . en.
10. Web site: February 25, 2021 . Idaho Black History: Dayo Onanubosi . 2022-05-03 . ktvb.com . en-US.
11. Web site: AllGov – Officials: Larry Echo Hawk. www.allgov.com. June 21, 2019.
12. (2023, May 31). Idaho Statesman, The (Boise, ID), p. 4. Available from NewsBank: Access World News: https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=image/v2%3A166BB730088A2840%40AWNB-191D4F8E4855E0BA%402460096-191DA0475AAC0D36%403-191DA0475AAC0D36%40 .
13. News: Nampa's Onanubosi named magistrate judge; First African-American to hold position. Idaho Press-Tribune. January 11, 2018.