Howard

Belodoff

Nominated by Jodi Peterson-Stigers:

Howard Belodoff’s 45 years with Idaho Legal Aid Services, Inc. began as a “Reggie” with a Reginald Heber Smith Fellowship. He specializes in complex trial and appellate civil rights cases including thirteen successful appeals in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. His advocacy has established precedents of national significance involving discrimination and the constitutional rights on behalf of unhoused persons, the LGBTQ community including transgender discrimination and same sex marriage, the privacy rights of persons with HIV, mentally ill children and adults, Farmworker housing and protections and Native American religious and trust land rights.

Howard has tirelessly advocated for the civil rights of Boise's most vulnerable residents. One of his most notable achievements was the landmark case of Martin v. Boise, which challenged Boise's "anti-camping" ordinance. This decade-long case culminated in a settlement prohibiting the criminalizing homelessness when no shelter is available and $1.3 million dollar to improve homeless services and to build a new shelter. This decision reverberated across the country and ensured that government focuses on preventing homelessness rather than implementing punitive measures.

Belodoff played a crucial role in the legal battle against the City of Boise's decision to takeover and convert a homeless shelter into a men-only facility, resulting in the eviction of women, children and families. Representing Community House Inc., Howard successfully argued a Fair Housing Act case leading to a 2012 jury award of $1 million in damages for retaliation and discrimination. This victory highlighted and underscored Howard's commitment to justice for marginalized populations.

Belodoff's career has been a relentless pursuit of civil rights, demonstrating his dedication to impact advocacy and justice. He has been counsel in Jeff D which is a forty-year case requiring Idaho to provide mental health services to children so they can remain with their families and not committed to the juvenile justice and foster care systems. His advocacy on behalf of Native American Tribes resulted in settlements of tens of millions in compensation for the leasing and use of rights of ways over tribal member’s trust lands and the implementation of federal regulations governing the leasing of trust lands and civil penalties for trespassing. The award of attorney fees in his cases has allowed ILAS to purchase three office buildings. 

Howard has mentored hundreds of legal aid attorneys and conducted trainings on a regional and national level. He served as the first Native American representative on the NLADA Civil Policy Council. He has authored the Chapters on Experts and Settlements in the newly revise Federal Practice Manual. He is Idaho’s District Court Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has received the 2021 Idaho State Bar Distinguished Lawyer Award, the NLADA 2019 Reginald Heber Smith Justice Award and the 2018 Idaho Trial Lawyers Association’s “Trial Lawyer of the Year” Award. He has been recognized as a Mountain States “Super Lawyer” since 2010. Howard truly embodies the spirit of justice and is highly deserving of recognition for his unwavering commitment to civil rights.