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ITD pilots fly nation's chief justice to Moscow
for lecture at U of I College of Law

Pilots from ITD’s Division of Aeronautics often are called on to shuttle state officials throughout Idaho, but a trip last week involved transporting the nation’s top legal official from the Treasure Valley to the Palouse.

Chief Justice of the United States John G. Roberts Jr. presented the University of Idaho’s 13th annual Sherman J. Bellwood Memorial Lecture March 13 at the U of I’s Student Union Building Ballroom.

Aeronautics Division Administrator JV DeThomas and Flight Operations Director, Mike Pape flew Justice Roberts, U of I College of Law officials Don Burnett and Richard H. Seamon, and a security detail from Boise Air Terminal to the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport March 12 in advance of the event.

“It’s probably the most important national official we’ve had the privilege to transport,” DeThomas said. “We had a smooth evening flight to the Pullman-Moscow Airport with a beautiful full moon and clear skies.”

DeThomas described the chief justice as “very approachable,” adding that they discussed the magnificent attributes of Idaho and the coming March collegiate basketball tournament.

Roberts was nominated as Chief Justice of the United States by President George W. Bush and took office in 2005. He was the fifth Supreme Court justice to deliver the Bellwood lecture, and the first sitting chief justice.

This year’s lecture marked the 100th anniversary of U of I’s College of Law.