Clark Peterson Reprimanded

Clark A. Peterson, a Kootenai County, Idaho Magistrate judge, was publicly reprimanded by the Idaho Judicial Council — with his own consent — for a pattern of changing clothes in his judicial chambers without securing the room. The specific incident cited: on May 2, a female deputy prosecutor bringing probable cause orders for Peterson to sign walked in on him changing into gym clothes, despite his knowing she was on her way. The Council's finding centered on his "failing to alter or eliminate his practice" after this kind of incident had apparently happened before.

Around the same period, Peterson was placed on leave for more than seven months over separate "personnel issues," and faced other public controversies, including appearing on the bench dressed as Darth Vader on Halloween and complaints that his fantasy role-playing hobby was interfering with his judicial duties. A campaign later formed seeking his removal via the November 2024 ballot, citing this broader pattern of conduct.