Prosecutor retires, reflects on career

BONNERS FERRY — Boundary County Prosecutor, John (Jack) R. Douglas retires after 18 years of service to the community, and a retirement party is planned to honor his career.

Douglas is a licensed attorney in Idaho and Texas with many legal positions beginning in 1978.

The decades-long career began with Douglas attending Gonzaga university for his undergraduate degree and later attending law school at the University of Idaho in Moscow.

From the years of 1978 to 1985, Douglas worked in various roles as a public defender and prosecutor for Boundary County.

Douglas spent 14-years in Dallas, Texas as an intern and Assistant District Attorney, from 1985 to 1999.

“Counting all prosecutor and deputy prosecutor positions, I have been a prosecutor more than 35 years,” Douglas said, “The rest I did defense work and also some civil work.”

As the first deputy prosecutor in Boundary, Douglas was initially hired by Randy Day, who instilled in him the importance of using power wisely because of the immense power one has over another person.

Day was the longtime Boundary County prosecutor who led criminal investigations following the 1992 Ruby Ridge standoff.

“I have tried hard always to remember that we deal with real people and their very real problems,” Douglas said.

Douglas hopes that his words help the next prosecutor work hard to show fairness and compassion, as they are important to justice.

“They are not a statistic and we must at all times remember that we are here to serve justice,” Douglas said.

According to Douglas, he has learned that being a good prosecutor requires discretion, caution, compassion, a sense of proper perspectives and working diligently.

“Do your best every day and keep your nose clean,” Douglas said.

He advises you to be diligent, always honest, and striving to be fair in his advice to anyone wanting to pursue a career similar to Douglas.

“We are not merely advocates but are also guardians of justice and fairness,” Douglas said.

If you tried to ask Douglas about a memorable experience in his career, he would not tell you because “A good prosecutor takes a great many things silently to his grave, and I will do the same.”

Now that Douglas will be retiring, he hopes to travel with his family to Canada, Australia, Europe and many other countries.

“April and I will finally be able to spend most of our time together,” Douglas said.

Douglas thanks the community for their support and loyalty to his work as a prosecutor of Boundary County.

“I would tell the community how much I appreciate the many kindnesses from them over the years,” Douglas said.

Douglas feels that he is leaving behind an efficient, professional staff.

According to Douglas, “One of the things I am proud of is that we have had little turnover during my time as a prosecutor.”

Jack Douglas will be celebrating his retirement at Chic N’ Chop on Dec. 29, 2020, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.