Hurst Idaho’s new solicitor general

BOISE — Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador on Thursday named the office’s new solicitor general, who will oversee strategic litigation and advise all divisions in the office.

Alan Hurst will take the position Monday. The office of solicitor general also prepares briefs and petitions, and argues select appeals in state and federal courts, according to a news release.

“I am very pleased to have Alan Hurst join our team as Idaho’s Solicitor General. His background and experience are impressive,” Labrador said in the news release. “Idaho faces numerous legal battles to safeguard laws enacted by our democratically elected legislature. Despite an onslaught of attacks by the Biden administration and liberal advocacy groups, our office has effectively defended the state. Our office will be well prepared as we navigate a docket of significant cases in the future.”

Hurst replaces Theo Wold, who left the office in October 2023 to join the military.

Hurst is a partner at Akerman LLP, a national law firm. Hurst specialized in “complex litigation at the trial and appellate levels in both state and federal courts,” the news release said.

Hurst previously clerked for the Utah Supreme Court and the 10th Circuit of Appeals, taught at the Brigham Young University Law School and held fellowships at the Yale Center for Faith and Culture and the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which is a nonprofit law firm that describes its mission as “to protect free expression of all faiths.”

Hurst is licensed to practice law in Idaho, the Lewiston Tribune confirmed. When his predecessor was named to the position, it was reported that Wold was not yet licensed to practice law in the state and had to take the Idaho Bar; it was announced he passed the exam in April 2023.

Hurst is admitted into the Utah Bar, the Lewiston Tribune confirmed, and Utah has reciprocity with Idaho, which means he does not need to take the Idaho Bar exam.

The attorney general’s office confirmed this.

“Alan has made application to the Idaho Bar, so he is ready to go,” spokesperson Dan Estes said in an email.

Hurst said in the emailed news release, “I’m honored to join the impressive group of lawyers Attorney General Labrador has assembled to defend the interests of Idaho. Idaho is helping define the law in ways that matter to people in this state and across our nation. I am excited to contribute to the Attorney General’s efforts to defend and protect Idaho.”

Guido covers Idaho politics for the Lewiston Tribune, Moscow-Pullman Daily News and Idaho Press of Nampa. She may be contacted at lguido@idahopress.com and can be found on X, formerly Twitter, @EyeOnBoiseGuido.