Michael Wetherell papers

Collection

Identifier: MS 010

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of correspondence, reports, studies, speeches, and memos related to Judge Mike Wetherell’s work as a member of the Boise City Council from 1986-2003, his work with non-profits including the Epilepsy Federation of America from 1981-1996, Idaho Epilepsy League from 1977-1983, and Friends of Capital City from 1985-1988. Also included in the collection are legal publications written by Judge Wetherell for the Idaho Trial Lawyers Association from 1989-2000.

Dates

1972 - 2002

Creator

Wetherell, Michael (1945) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Select records may be exempt from disclosure under Idaho Public Records Act.

Conditions Governing Use

Biographical / Historical

Judge Michael “Mike” E. Wetherell was born March 2, 1945, in Redding, California to Robert and Rose Wetherell. He was raised in Mountain Home, Idaho and graduated from University of Idaho in 1967 then received a law degree from George Washington University in 1972, passing the Idaho State Bar the same year.

Judge Wetherell worked for Senator Frank Church from 1967-1977, serving as his chief legal counsel from 1971-1974. In 1977 after resigning from his position with Senator Church he returned to Boise, Idaho to practice law. In 1985 he ran in the Boise City Council election and won, he served on the council until 2003 holding the position of president from 1987-1991 and again from 2002-2003.

Judge Wetherell was also active in state politics, he was the chair of the Idaho Democratic Party from 1990 to 1993 and ran in elections for the Idaho State House of Representatives, Idaho Attorney General, and Idaho Supreme Court. In January 2003 he was sworn in as a District Judge in the Fourth Judicial District of Idaho where he remained until his retirement in 2014.

Aside from his political involvement Judge Wetherell was the president of the Idaho Epilepsy League, regional director of the Epilepsy Foundation of America, president of the Boise Kiwanis Club, a member of the Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho (COMPASS), served on the board of governors of Idaho Trial Lawyers Association, and acted as editor of the Idaho Trial Lawyers Magazine.

Judge Wetherell lives in Boise, Idaho with his wife Karen Mackenzie Wetherell.

Extent

16 Cubic Feet (16 boxes and 1 oversize folder )

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

The records are arranged in 4 series, two of which have been further arranged in subseries. The contents of each series or subseries are arranged alphabetically. The series and subseries arrangement of the records is as follows:
Series 1: Correspondence
Series 2: Subject Files
Subseries 1: Land Use and Urban Development
Subseries 2: Finance
Subseries 3: Public Health and Safety
Subseries 4: Legal
Subseries 5: Planning
Series 3: Council Meetings, Memos, Reports, Speeches
Series 4: Personal
Subseries 1: Campaign Material
Subseries 2: Non-Profit Board Membership
Subseries 3: Publications

Physical Location

Materials are stored offsite; advance notice is required.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Collection was donated to Boise City Archives by Michael Wetherell May 5, 2021.

Related Materials

Related materials pertaining to collection creator’s work with Senator Frank Church may be found in the following repository: Boise State University Library, Special Collections and Archives.

Processing Information

The arrangement scheme for the collection was imposed during processing in the absence of a usable original order. Folder titles were created by archivist.