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BOISE, Idaho — An Idaho judge who sits on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has announced his plans to retire to senior status.

Circuit Judge N. Randy Smith announced his plans Thursday. He says he’ll continue to hear cases after he takes senior status effective August 11, 2018 — his 69th birthday.

Smith was appointed by former President George W. Bush to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2007. The appeals court is the nation’s largest and busiest appellate court, which hears cases in nine western states and two Pacific Island jurisdictions.

Smith wrote the dissenting opinion on the court’s 2-1 ruling declaring California’s same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional in 2012.

Prior to being appointed to the appeals court, Smith was an Idaho 6th District judge for 12 years.