Howard

Belodoff

Nominated by Jodi Peterson-Stigers:

Howard Belodoff’s 45 years with Idaho Legal Aid Services, Inc. began as a “Reggie” with a Reginald Heber Smith Fellowship. He specializes in complex trial and appellate civil rights cases including thirteen successful appeals in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Howard has tirelessly advocated for the civil rights of Boise's most vulnerable residents. One of his most notable achievements was the landmark case of Martin v. Boise, which challenged Boise's ""anti-camping"" ordinance. This decade-long case culminated in a settlement prohibiting criminalizing homelessness when no shelter is available and money to improve homeless services and to build a new shelter. 
Belodoff also played a preventing the takeover and conversion of a homeless shelter into a men-only facility, which would have resulted in the eviction of women, children and families. Representing Community House Inc., Howard successfully argued a Fair Housing Act case.

Belodoff's career has endlessly demonstrated his dedication to justice. He has been counsel in Jeff D which is a forty-year case requiring Idaho to provide mental health services to children so they can remain with their families and not be committed to the juvenile justice and foster care systems. His advocacy on behalf of Native American Tribes resulted in settlements compensating them for leasing and use of rights of ways over trust lands. 

He has mentored hundreds of legal aid attorneys and conducted trainings on a regional and national level. He served as the first Native American representative on the NLADA Civil Policy Council. He has authored the Chapters on Experts and Settlements in the newly revise Federal Practice Manual. He is Idaho’s District Court Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has received the 2021 Idaho State Bar Distinguished Lawyer Award, the NLADA 2019 Reginald Heber Smith Justice Award and the 2018 Idaho Trial Lawyers Association’s “Trial Lawyer of the Year” Award. He has been recognized as a Mountain States “Super Lawyer” since 2010. Howard truly embodies the spirit of justice and is highly deserving of recognition for his unwavering commitment to civil rights.