Confounding Statutes, How Does Statutory Interpretation Work Again?
This article, originally published in the May 2026 Edition of The Advocate, explores several examples of Idaho statutes where the presence of ambiguities and confusion…
ReadCathy R. Silak
Of Counsel
- Phone:
- 208.388.4887
- Fax:
- 208.954.5289
- Email:
- csilak@hawleytroxell.com
Biography
Cathy is a member of the firm’s Appellate and Mediation practice groups. She began her career with Hawley Troxell in 1984 and became partner in 1988. From 1989 to 1990 she was Associate General Counsel of Morrison Knudsen. In 1990 Cathy was appointed by Governor Cecil D. Andrus as the first woman judge on the Idaho Court of Appeals. She was appointed in 1993 to the Idaho Supreme Court and became the Court’s Vice-Chief Justice in 1997. She served on the Supreme Court until 2000, and in 2001 she resumed her partnership with Hawley Troxell. After serving as the Founding Dean of Concordia University School of Law, Idaho from 2008-2016, Cathy became Concordia University’s Vice President of Community Engagement, and in 2017 returned to Hawley Troxell once again as Of Counsel.
Cathy has practiced law in California and Washington D.C., and was appointed an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. She also served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Idaho.
Cathy serves as Pro Bono Counsel for Hawley Troxell.
BAR ADMISSIONS
Idaho
United States Supreme Court
PROFESSIONAL/COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS
American Bar Association Council of Appellate Lawyers
American Bar Foundation, Fellow
Andrus Center for Public Policy
American Law Institute, Elected member
American Heart Association
Richard C. Fields American Inn of Court No. 130, Bencher Emeritus
American Arbitration Association National Roster of Employment Arbitrators and National Roster of Commercial Arbitrators, Panelist
Idaho Women Lawyers, Member
Boise Art Museum, Board of Trustees, Secretary, 2020–2021
International Women’s Forum of Idaho, Board of Directors,
since 2020
Boise State University, Master of Public Administrative Program, Adjunct faculty member
Concordia University of Law, Idaho; Founding Dean, 2008–2016, Vice President of Community Engagement, 2016-2017
Idaho Community Foundation, President and CEO, 2004–2008
Idaho Supreme Court Appellate Settlement Program, Settlement Justice, 1993–2000
Idaho Supreme Court Justice, 1993–2000
Idaho Court of Appeals Judge, 1990–1993
The Learning Lab, Past President and founding Board member
Advisory Council Member, Boise State University School of Public Service
EDUCATION
Law School:
University of California at Berkeley School of Law, J.D., 1976
University of Virginia School of Law, LL.M., 1995
Graduate:
Harvard University, M.A. City Planning, 1973
Undergraduate:
New York University, B.A. Sociology and French Literature, 1971
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Idaho Business Review, Leaders in Law – Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, 2025
Best Lawyers in America, Appellate Practice, 2022
Idaho Business Review, Icon Award recipient, 2018
Idaho State Bar, Distinguished Lawyer Award, 2010
Idaho Women Lawyers, Kate Feltham Award
Boise Family YMCA, Service to Youth Award
Boise State University, Women Making History Award
Idaho State Bar, Family Law Award
Women’s and Children’s Alliance, Joyce Stein Award
Women’s and Children’s Alliance, Tribute to Women & Industry (TWIN) award recipient, 2004
Soroptimist International, “Women Helping Women” Award
March of Dimes, White Rose Award
PRESENTATIONS
Presenter, William H. Bowen School of Law, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Enhanced Campaign Finance Disclosure and Recusal Rules to Offset the Influence of Dark Money in State Supreme Court Races, 2017
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