Latah County Prosecuting Attorney William W. “Bill” Thompson announced on Oct. 6 that he will be retiring at the end of November after 34 years in office.
Thompson, who led the high-profile case against Bryan Kohberger, was first elected in 1992 and took office on Nov. 9, 1992, and is the longest serving prosecutor in Latah County history while also being currently the longest serving elected prosecutor in Idaho.
In his letter of appreciation to the people of Latah County, Thompson said, “After having the honor and privilege of serving as your County Prosecuting Attorney for 34 years, the time has come for me to move on and allow the next generation to take the Latah County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.”
Thompson also expressed his gratitude, saying in his letter, “I am humbled by the trust and support you have given me and our office since Nov. 9, 1992, when I was first sworn in. You, the people of Latah County, have blessed me with the absolutely best job I could ever dream of – literally a dream come true. I will be forever grateful.”
“Bill has had a phenomenal career and is a brilliant prosecutor who is dedicated to bringing criminals to justice,” former Moscow Police Chief James Fry said in a text message to the Idaho Statesman. “Bill is an awesome man, and it was an honor to get to work beside him through the years.”
Thompson wrote that he did not initially plan to seek reelection to a ninth term in 2024. But he felt compelled, likely to see through to the end the murder case against Kohberger, who later pled guilty, saying: “there were extraordinary circumstances and responsibilities at that time that required me to continue, and I am deeply appreciative of you re-electing me to fulfill those obligations.”
Thompson’s replacement will be selected from a list of names submitted to the Latah County Board of Commissioners to serve through the end of Bill’s current term in January 2029.
Sam Walsh can be reached at [email protected]