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Karl Vogt named lead deputy attorney general for ITD

A deputy attorney general who has represented ITD in construction and eminent domain litigation the past six years was promoted to lead deputy general last week.

Karl Vogt assumed the new responsibilities on Aug. 17, replacing Steve Bywater who became the state’s chief prosecuting attorney in July.

“We are very fortunate to have someone of Karl’s caliber, who possesses his knowledge of the department and the complex issues we face, someone who can step in and pick up where Steve left off,” said ITD director Dave Ekern.
“I invite the ITD community to join me in congratulating Karl, wishing him well, and offering our support.”

Ekern announced the promotion, on behalf of Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, at the transportation board meeting in Coeur d’Alene.

An Idaho native, Vogt began his legal career at ITD after receiving his law degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. He worked at ITD about 18 months before moving to the Idaho Department of Education as its lead deputy attorney general. He returned to ITD in 1998.

As ITD's lead deputy attorney general, Vogt will be responsible for a staff of five deputy attorneys general and an administrative staff of four. He will relinquish most of his some 20 remaining cases to other staff attorneys and will concentrate more on management responsibilities and providing legal direction to administrators and the transportation board.

“I expect to keep very busy… construction drives a lot of what our office does at both ends, right-of-way acquisition on the front end and construction-related issues on the back end.”

His office workload corresponds with the department’s construction activity – the more projects, the busier he and his colleagues are. And the immediate future promises to be busy with a number of high-profile, large construction projects on the horizon.

“I really like what we do here. We’re involved in a wide range of activities. We have great folks working here. I am extremely happy with where I am, and I don’t foresee moving anywhere.”

Vogt grew up on a farm between Caldwell and Marsing and graduated from Vallivue High School in Caldwell. He is married and three children between the ages of 11 and 17.