On Thursday, October 17, 2024, The Spokesman-Review reported that a campaign is underway to remove Kootenai County Magistrate Judge Clark A. Peterson from his position as he faces re-election in November. The campaign is spearheaded by Tina Stevens, who was previously involved in a divorce and custody case overseen by Peterson in 2012.

Judge Peterson, 57, who was appointed in 2010, has a history of reprimands related to his conduct in the courtroom. Notably, he drew criticism after appearing in court dressed as Darth Vader on Halloween, an incident that raised concerns about his professionalism. Over the years, numerous complaints have been filed against Peterson, alleging that his interest in fantasy role-playing games negatively impacts his judicial duties.

In a significant development, Kootenai County Prosecutor Stanley Mortensen successfully petitioned to have Peterson removed from all cases involving the prosecutor’s office following a sexual harassment complaint lodged against him last year. This complaint prompted an investigation by the Idaho Judicial Council, which led to Peterson being placed on administrative leave for seven months. The council subsequently issued a public reprimand for Peterson’s failure to secure his office while changing clothes.

Stevens, leading the campaign to unseat Peterson, expressed her concerns about his behavior, stating, “All of us in Kootenai County are at risk if we ever have to enter the courthouse. We have an out-of-control judge who needs to be voted out.” Peterson is among four magistrate judges facing retention elections, where voters will decide whether to keep them in their positions by marking “yes” or “no.” The other judges on the ballot are Anna Eckhart, James Combo, and Destry Randles.

According to County Clerk Jennifer Locke, a simple majority is required for magistrate judges to retain their seats. Typically, these judges win retention elections by significant margins, as there are often no opposing candidates. Peterson previously secured retention with 81% of the vote in both 2012 and 2020, and 73% in 2016.

Stevens previously attempted to campaign against Peterson in 2016 but reported setbacks due to vandalism of campaign signs and issues with distributing flyers. She did not pursue a campaign in 2020 due to the pandemic, but she feels better prepared this time around.

The campaign materials refer to Peterson as “Demon Lord,” a nod to his former gaming avatar, the demon prince Orcus. Reports indicate that while serving on the bench, Peterson engaged in extensive online discussions on fantasy message boards.

Peterson’s attorney, Jim Siebe, stated that the judge is restricted by judicial canons from commenting on any cases, including those that are no longer active. The sexual harassment complaint, filed by the prosecutor’s office, was reportedly made without the consent of the deputy prosecutor involved, who described the incident as accidental.

The complaint alleged that the deputy prosecutor entered Peterson’s office without permission, interrupting him as he changed into gym clothes. Another female coworker also claimed to have experienced a similar situation. The complaint further accused Peterson of favoritism toward attractive female attorneys and defendants.

Siebe denied the allegations, asserting that the judicial council’s findings regarding Peterson’s behavior centered on the failure to secure his office door, and he criticized the prosecutor’s office for publicizing the complaint through court filings.

The prosecutor’s office contended that the allegations of sexual harassment and other misconduct indicated that Peterson could not fairly preside over cases involving them, leading to a request for his disqualification from such matters.

In addition to the recent complaints, Peterson has faced previous disciplinary actions from the judicial council, including a public reprimand in 2020 for falsifying vacation records and a private reprimand in 2015 concerning his gaming activities. Notably, he is also the founder of two tabletop gaming companies, Necromancer Games and Legendary Games.

 

 

Source: The Spokesman-Review