Senate committee sends Blackfoot nominee to floor, hears three corrections-board appointments

The Idaho Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee on an voice vote sent the gubernatorial appointment of Kirk Nelson of Blackfoot to the full Senate with a recommendation that he be confirmed.

Senator Laura Lakey, chair of the committee, opened the meeting item and Senator Melissa Wintrow moved to advance the nomination. Senator Tim Ricks seconded the motion; committee members signified assent by saying "aye" and the motion carried.

The vote advances Nelson’s nomination to the Senate floor with a committee recommendation that the Senate confirm him to the Offender Management Board. Chair Lakey also asked whether Senator Ricks might carry the nomination to the full Senate; she said the assignment could be changed if needed.

The committee also heard gubernatorial appointments to corrections-related bodies from three nominees who introduced themselves and answered questions but were not voted on at the meeting. Corey Barrier, introduced as the deputy chief of Probation and Parole for the Idaho Department of Corrections, told the committee he has been with the department for about 18 years and described supervising *** offenders in the community and working to connect clients with treatment and community providers. He said the board role is an ancillary duty to his regular job overseeing seven probation and parole districts and roughly 500 staff.

"I approach the work of helping facilitate behavior change the same regardless of, you know, what reasons a person is coming for," Barrier said, adding that clients who were convicted of *** offenses often require an "elevated level of understanding" and tailored treatment connections.

Luke Malek, a gubernatorial appointee to the State Board of Correction, described his background as a former prosecutor, a six-year member of the Idaho House (2013–2018) and a private practice attorney. Malek told the committee he is a registered lobbyist for the Idaho Healthcare Association and the Idaho Community Health Center Association and said board members must act as fiduciaries and keep constitutional and statutory duties foremost in mind.

"When you're talking about the criminal justice system, constitutional rights are obviously something that have to be first and foremost in people's minds," Malek said.

Chair Lakey noted that the committee takes votes on appointments at a subsequent meeting; the Barrier and Malek nominations will be addressed at the committee's next scheduled session.

Kirk Nelson (Blackfoot) and the other nominees were presented during the committee's agenda item on gubernatorial appointments; no other formal actions on those nominations took place during the meeting.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to send Kirk Nelson (gubernatorial appointment) to the Senate floor with a recommendation to confirm. Mover: Senator Melissa Wintrow. Second: Senator Tim Ricks. Outcome: motion carried (voice vote, "aye"). - Votes on Corey Barrier and Luke Malek appointments: not taken at this meeting; to be scheduled at the committee's next meeting.

The committee adjourned after concluding the day's agenda and said it will consider the remaining confirmations at the next meeting.