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Robert E. Bakes, the former Chief Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court, concentrates his practice in the area of alternative dispute resolution, such as arbitration, mediation, and summary trials, as well as consultation in trial and appellate practice and procedure. He has extensive experience as a mediator and is on the panel of approved mediators and arbitrators of the American Arbitration Association, the United States District Court for the District of Idaho, and the Idaho Supreme Court. Justice Bakes served 21 years as a Justice with the Idaho Supreme Court, serving as Chief Justice from 1989 until his retirement in 1993. He authored nearly 1,000 written opinions during his judicial career, including many precedent setting cases, such as Bliss Valley v. West One Bank, outlining the law of lender liability.Following are a few examples of recent matters handled by Justice Bakes: Defended a $25 million breach of contract case brought against a major Idaho food processor, which was settled successfully, with the parties agreeing to redefine and continue their business relationship.Successfully mediated a case that gained national attention, involving a Pennsylvania couple whose faulty automobile tire caused a fire, resulting in the destruction of thousands of acres of timberland in the Boise National Forest.Mediated many automobile liability cases for major insurance carriers using the settlement week format.Chaired the Snake River Adjudication Advisory Committee, a committee appointed by the Supreme Court to advise the Snake River Adjudication court concerning the procedures to be employed in the Snake River Adjudication, the largest civil litigation in the history of Idaho Justice Bakes received his law degree from the University of Idaho Law School in 1956, graduating first in his class. He has taught at the University of Illinois Law School in Urbana, Illinois. He was appointed to the Idaho Supreme Court in 1971. In 1992, he received the Kramer Award for excellence in judicial administration, as well as the Idaho State Bar Outstanding Service Award. He also received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Albertson College of Idaho in 1993 and Distinguished Alumni Service Awards from the University of Idaho and Boise State University in 1989 and 1990. In 2003 he received the Distinguished Lawyer Award given annually by the Idaho State Bar Association. Justice Bakes is a member of the American Bar Association and former Chairman of the Appellate Judges’ Conference of the ABA. He is a member of the Idaho State Bar and former chair of the Bar’s Dispute Resolution Section. Justice Bakes served as President and Director of the Idaho Law Foundation, the non-profit foundation of the Idaho State Bar (1994-1996). | 