Harden takes oath as district's newest judge

SANDPOINT — North Idaho native Tera Ann Harden took her oath of office Friday as a Bonner County Magistrate Court judge during an investiture ceremony.

A capacity crowd of Harden’s family, friends and colleagues filled the 100-seat courtroom, while judges from all over the 1st Judicial District filled the jury box.

Harden was born in Moscow and raised in Bonners Ferry. She earned her undergraduate degree from the Walla Walla College in 1996 and earned her law degree from the University in Idaho in 1999. Harden was admitted to the bar in 1999.

While in law school, Harden worked for the city of Coeur d’Alene with a limited license prosecuting minor crimes and infractions, in addition to handing civil matters and representing clients in tribal court on the Nez Perce reservation.

Harden began practicing law in California as a deputy district attorney in Riverside County in 2001 and entered into private practice in 2003, where she focused on criminal defense for juveniles and adults.

Harden also attended to complex litigation, family law matters with intertwined criminal matters, in addition to personal injury cases. She attained in 2012 an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, a information services company. It’s the highest rating a lawyer can receive and she still holds it to this day, said 1st District Judge Barbara Buchanan.

Harden returned to Idaho in 2014 and was appointed to serve as the first chief public defender for Canyon County.

“Tera undertook the Herculean task of building the Canyon County Public Defender’s Office from the ground up,” said Buchanan, adding that she accomplished the feat within two months of her appointment.

Two close friends of Harden’s also spoke during the ceremony.

“Tera’s done a wonderful job. She’s going to be a great judge and we are very proud,” said Renata McLeod, a clerk and Municipal Services director for the city of Coeur d’Alene.

California attorney Patricia Law recalled her friend having two goals in life — to be a mother and to be a judge. The ranking of those priorities would change over the years, although she would ultimately achieve both.

Harden’s infant daughter, Katherine, beamed smiles from the laps of family members seated in the gallery’s front row.

“This county and this state got Judge Harden at the perfect time,” Law said. “The same qualities that make a great judge make a great parent — patience, deliberation, respect and compassion.”

Harden was also given heaps of advice.

Harden’s father, retired magistrate court Judge Quentin Harden, shared anecdotes on the importance of choosing your words carefully because of the baggage they can pack. Quentin recalled responding in kind when he was confronted by a defendant who made rude comments to him. The defendant filed a complaint against Harden with the Idaho Judicial Commission.

The complaint didn’t gain any traction with the commission and the woman was later convicted of a cold-case homicide in Newport.

“That brought home in a real emphatic way that words are important. They can gain you or cost you a job, a friendship, a marriage or your life,” Quentin Harden said.

Senior District Judge James Michaud, meanwhile, presented her with a robe case he discovered in the Boundary County Courthouse. Michaud used it while visiting other parts of the district, as did Harden’s father.

Tera Harden, who dabbed at tears during parts of the ceremony, thanked her friends, colleagues and family members, including her husband, Eric.

She pledged to listen to understand instead of listening to respond.

“I will do my best to make sure that the decisions that I make are well thought-out, are backed up by the law and are fair. I know moving forward I am going to struggle all the time to make the right decision and the best decision. I’ve been told that the best decision is generally when both sides are unhappy,” she said.