IDAHO FALLS, Idaho >> The newest judge on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which handles federal appellate cases in Hawaii and other western states, was sworn in Friday.

Ryan Nelson, a longtime Idaho Falls resident and attorney for Melaleuca Inc., was nominated by President Donald Trump to the 9th Circuit in May. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in a mostly partisan vote of 51-44.

The Post Register reported that during his investiture ceremony in Idaho Falls, Nelson said he believed the courts should be the weakest branch of the government. He said the courts had gained more power than intended over the years.

Besides Hawaii, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals handles cases for Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, as well as the U.S. territories of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.