Hon. Gene A. Petty

Judge Gene A. Petty was appointed to the Idaho Court of Appeals by Governor Brad Little on May 28, 2026, and was sworn in on July 1, 2026.

Born in Oklahoma, Judge Petty attended high school in Mountain Home, Arkansas. After high school, he attended California State University, San Marcos, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, followed by a Juris Doctor from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Judge Petty moved to Idaho in 2003 and began his legal career at the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office. Over the years, he handled a broad range of civil litigation in Boise, including medical malpractice, civil rights, tort, tax, and employment discrimination cases. His litigation experience includes appearances in Idaho’s state trial courts, the U.S. District Court, and the Idaho Supreme Court.

In April 2017, Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter appointed him as a district judge in Idaho’s Third Judicial District, where he served Adams, Canyon, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, and Washington counties. As a district judge, he heard civil and felony criminal cases and presided over the Canyon County Mental Health Court. He was re-elected to the district court bench in 2018, 2022, and 2026.

Throughout his 23 years as a lawyer and judge, Judge Petty has been deeply involved in efforts to strengthen Idaho’s behavioral health system. In 2020, he was appointed by former Idaho Supreme Court Justice Roger Burdick as a founding member of the Idaho Behavioral Health Council, helping establish its priorities. He was reappointed to the Council by Chief Justice Richard Bevan in 2024 and continues to guide implementation of several key initiatives. Judge Petty is also a participant in the Judges and Psychiatrists Leadership Initiative and has used its curriculum to train Idaho judges on behavioral health in partnership with a local psychiatrist.

Outside of the courtroom, Judge Petty has taught as an adjunct professor at Concordia University School of Law and serves as an assistant coach for a high school mock trial team. In 2018, he received the Idaho State Bar’s Service Award in recognition of his leadership as Chair of both the Idaho Academy of Leadership for Lawyers and the Professionalism and Ethics Section.

When not working, Judge Petty enjoys spending time with his family, as well as hiking, backpacking, and fly fishing throughout Idaho’s beautiful landscapes.