The City of Pocatello will unveil an honorary street sign on October 19 honoring retired Idaho Judge Sergio Gutierrez, the state’s first Latino district court judge.
A ceremony is scheduled for noon at the intersection of South Eighth Avenue and Red Hill Road, located across from the Pond Student Union Building at Idaho State University. The public is invited to attend, and Gutierrez is expected to be present.
Council Approves Honorary Designation
The Pocatello City Council approved renaming a section of South Eighth Avenue between Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Humboldt Street as Gutierrez Avenue. The new honorary designation replaces the previous name, Cesar Chavez Avenue.
A Street Renaming Ad Hoc Committee reviewed potential candidates and recommended Gutierrez for the honor. The committee presented its selection to the mayor and City Council during an August 13 work session.
The honorary street name is symbolic. Existing official street names and mailing addresses in the area will not change as a result of the designation.
Judicial Career and Community Service
Gutierrez’s legal career included service on the Idaho Court of Appeals after his tenure as a district judge. During his time on the bench, he helped establish statewide standards for certified court interpreters, a measure designed to expand access to justice for non-English speakers.
Born into a migrant farmworker family, Gutierrez worked in Idaho’s agricultural fields as a child. He later earned his GED and graduated from Boise State University before becoming an attorney.
Early in his professional life, Gutierrez worked with the Idaho Migrant Council and Idaho Legal Aid Services. In those roles, he advocated for migrant farmworkers and other underserved communities across the state. He also spent years mentoring young people throughout Idaho.