Jay J. Kiiha, J.D., LL.M., is licensed to practice law in Idaho and Washington and is an inactive member of the Arkansas Bar. He is also admitted to the US District Court for the District of Idaho and the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Mr. Kiiha’s practice emphasizes criminal defense (primarily federal drug conspiracy and trafficking), appellate work, complex civil litigation, natural resources, immigration and administrative licensing matters.
Mr. Kiiha obtained his J.D. from Northern Illinois University and served as a judicial clerk in both Idaho and Illinois prior to entering private practice. Mr. Kiiha has an LL.M. in Agriculture Law from the University of Arkansas. Mr. Kiiha also served as a fellow at the National Agricultural Law Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas, writing on issues of tort liability, natural resource management and Chapter 12 bankruptcy. Prior to forming Capitol Law Group, PLLC, Mr. Kiiha was a partner in Arkoosh Law Offices in Gooding, Idaho. Mr. Kiiha is proud to be a member of Idaho’s Criminal Justice Act panel, providing indigent defense services to persons accused of committing federal crimes.
Mr. Kiiha teaches business law at Boise State University and taught business law at the College of Southern Idaho. Mr. Kiiha served of counsel to Eiguren Public Law and Policy, PLLC, and acted as a lobbyist for various corporate and resource management concerns during the 2008- 2010 sessions of the Idaho Legislature. Mr. Kiiha is a dual Finnish-American citizen and takes an active interest in preserving the rights of immigrants and those persons attempting to obtain U.S. citizenship; especially our neighbors in Mexico.
Mr. Kiiha lives with his wife, daughter and stepdaughter in Boise and is involved as a parishioner of St. John’s Catholic Church. On weekends, he can be found hacking out the almost hit delta blues parade of 1935 on a well-worn Martin Guitar, and also spends an inordinate amount of time running on the Greenbelt. Mr. Kiiha has an active interest in the history of physical culture and was assistant editor for the magazine The Iron Master from 1995-2000.
Representative Cases
US v. Holmes, 646 F. 3d 659 (9th Cir. 2011)
Erickson v. Idaho Bd. of Registration, 203 P.3d 1251 (Idaho S. Ct. 2009)
State v. Pruett, 139 P.3d 753 (Idaho Ct. App. 2006).
News and Publications
Trade Protectionism of Wine Brand Names at the Expense of American Viticultural Areas: Arbitrary Protection of “Big Liquor” in Action, 9 DRAKE AGRIC. LAW JOURNAL 157-184 (2004)
Debt Excepted from Bankruptcy for Farmer Making False Financial Statements, 20 AGRIC. LAW UPDATE 1-3 (2002).
Admissions
- Arkansas (Inactive)
- Idaho
- Washington
- US Courts for the District of Idaho
- US Court of Appeals for the Ninth District