Associated Press

BOISE -- Third District Judge Sergio Gutierrez was sworn in to the Idaho Court of Appeals on Wednesday, becoming the first Hispanic and Gov. Dirk Kempthorne's first appointment to the state's appellate bench.

"To be an effective leader, one must first be a humble servant. Sergio has reached the pinnacle after a career of service," said 6th District Judge Randy Smith, who presented Gutierrez to Kempthorne to be sworn in.

Gutierrez, 47, was born in Mexico and grew up in New Mexico. He was trained through the Job Corps, obtained his high school equivalency, graduated from Boise State University and from Hastings College of the Law at the University of California.

Gutierrez worked for Legal Aid Services representing farm workers, opened a practice in Boise and was appointed to the district court in 1993 by then-Gov. Cecil Andrus.

"Everything he has accomplished in his life has been through old-fashioned hard work," Kempthorne said.

"This is a great day for Idaho."