FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 27, 2026
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes mourn the passing and honor the legacy of William “Bill” F. Bacon
FORT HALL, Idaho – The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes are deeply saddened to announce the passing of William “Bill” F. Bacon, who died in an automobile accident on March 26, 2026. The Tribes honor his extraordinary 37 years of dedicated service, including 12 years as Tribal Judge and 24 years as General Counsel, during which he served as a tireless advocate for tribal sovereignty and a steadfast protector of the Tribes’ rights and future.
Working closely with his legal team, Bacon advanced the Tribes’ interests through landmark legal victories that strengthened tribal sovereignty, protected treaty rights, and secured critical resources for future generations.
Among his most significant achievements, Bacon and his team contributed to a successful U.S. Supreme Court effort that overturned the 1896 Ward v. Racehorse decision, helping to restore the Tribes’ off-reservation treaty rights to hunt, fish, and gather. Rights that had been denied for decades following Idaho’s statehood. He also successfully defended those rights in multiple Idaho Supreme Court challenges and secured a multi-million-dollar fuel tax case affirming tribal sovereignty.
Bacon further served as counsel in the landmark FMC Corporation case, which upheld an annual judgment for the Tribes related to hazardous waste storage on the reservation. The case remains unique in U.S. legal history as the only one to satisfy bothMontana exceptions for tribal jurisdiction over non-Indians.
He earned his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and his law degree from the University of Idaho. Before joining the Tribes full-time, Bacon maintained a general litigation practice and served as Bannock County Prosecuting Attorney. He was licensed to practice in Idaho, Illinois, Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Court, the U.S. District Court for Idaho, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.
His honors reflect a career of excellence and integrity. Bacon was a member of the United States Supreme Court Bar Association and received the 2023 Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished Attorney award, recognizing his high legal ability and ethical standards.
Beyond the courtroom, Bacon lived the Tribes’ cultural values. He participated in traditional sweat lodge and Sundance ceremonies, deepening his connection to the Shoshone-Bannock people he so dearly loved and served. He is survived by his wife, Lisa, and their three daughters, whose love and support were a constant source of strength throughout his life and career.
“Bill Bacon’s legacy is written in restored treaty rights, protected sovereignty, and resources secured for our people through his leadership and collaboration with his legal team,” said Chairwoman Donna Thompson. “He has been more than counsel—he has been a steadfast guardian of our future and a dear friend of the Tribes.”
The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes extend their deepest gratitude to William “Bill” F. Bacon for a lifetime of service. He will be deeply missed, and his legacy will continue to guide and benefit the Tribes for generations to come.