Courts in Idaho
| More information on Idaho's state courts: |
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| Selection methods Elections Salaries Federal courts |
In Idaho, there is one federal district court, a state supreme court, a state court of appeals, and trial courts with both general and limited jurisdiction. These courts serve different purposes, which are outlined in the sections below.
Click a link for information about that court type.
The image below depicts the flow of cases through Idaho's state court system. Cases typically originate in the trial courts and can be appealed to courts higher up in the system.
Judicial selection process
- See also: Judicial selection in Idaho and Idaho judicial elections
Selection of state court judges in Idaho occurs primarily through nonpartisan elections. All judges (with the exception of magistrates, who are appointed to the bench by a magistrate commission) participate in elections wherein they cannot be nominated or endorsed by any political party.
The five justices of the Idaho Supreme Court and the four judges of the Idaho Court of Appeals are elected in nonpartisan elections. They serve six-year terms, after which they must seek re-election if they wish to retain their seat. The 42 judges of the Idaho District Courts are elected in nonpartisan elections to four-year terms.
To read more about judicial elections in Idaho, click here.
Federal courts
The federal district court in Idaho is the United States District Court for the District of Idaho.
Appeals go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.
Active judges
| Judge | Appointed By | Assumed Office | Bachelors | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 12, 2017 - |
Brigham Young University, 1982 |
Brigham Young University, 1986 |
||
| May 18, 2023 - |
University of Idaho, 1989 |
University of Idaho, 1993 |
The list below displays the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president. It does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.
- Democrat appointed: 1
- Republican appointed: 1
Judicial selection
Judges who sit on the federal district courts are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. These judges serve life terms. To read more about the judges on these courts, click here.
Bankruptcy courts
There is one federal bankruptcy court in Idaho. This court has subject-matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. The federal bankruptcy court in Idaho is:
State supreme court
- See also: Idaho Supreme Court
Founded in 1890, the Idaho Supreme Court is the state's court of last resort and has five judgeships. The current chief of the court is G. Richard Bevan.
As of January 2023, four judges on the court were appointed by a Republican governor and one judge was initially selected in an election.
The court meets in the Supreme Court Building in Boise, Idaho.[1]
In Idaho, state supreme court justices are elected in nonpartisan elections. There are 13 states that use this selection method. To read more about the nonpartisan election of judges, click here.
The 1890 Idaho Constitution gives the Idaho Supreme Court the authority to hear appeals of the final rulings of the district courts, as well as from orders from the Public Utilities Commission, Industrial Accident Commission and the Idaho Industrial Commission. The court has original jurisdiction to hear cases against the state and to issue writs of review, mandamus, prohibition, and habeas corpus, and all writs necessary for complete exercise of its appellate jurisdiction. Parties may make a further appeal to the supreme court from the Idaho Court of Appeals, or the court may choose to review a decision of the court of appeals.[2]
The table below lists the current judges of the Idaho Supreme Court and the appointing governor.
| Office | Name | Party | Date assumed office | Appointed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho Supreme Court | G. Richard Bevan | Nonpartisan | 2017 | Butch Otter (R) |
| Idaho Supreme Court | Robyn Brody | Nonpartisan | January 2, 2017 | Elected |
| Idaho Supreme Court | Cynthia Meyer | Nonpartisan | January 5, 2024 | Brad Little (R) |
| Idaho Supreme Court | Gregory W. Moeller | Nonpartisan | 2019 | Butch Otter (R) |
| Idaho Supreme Court | Colleen Zahn | Nonpartisan | July 1, 2021 | Brad Little (R) |
State court of appeals
- See also: Idaho Court of Appeals
The Idaho Court of Appeals was established in 1980 as the intermediate appellate court in Idaho.[3] The court hears cases assigned to it by the Idaho Supreme Court, except capital murder convictions and appeals from the Public Utilities Commission or Industrial Commission which must be heard by the Idaho Supreme Court. Appellants may petition the Idaho Supreme Court to review an Idaho Court of Appeals decision, but the Idaho Supreme Court is not required to grant such a petition.
The Idaho Court of Appeals has three judges and a chief judge who are elected in nonpartisan elections to renewable six-year terms. Cases are heard by three-judge panels.[4]
The following judges sit on the court:
| Judge | Tenure | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|
|
July 2, 2015 - Present |
Butch Otter |
|
|
2017 - Present |
Butch Otter |
|
|
January 1, 2009 - Present |
Butch Otter |
|
|
March 29, 2024 - Present |
Brad Little |
Trial courts
District courts
- See also: Idaho District Courts
The Idaho District Courts hear criminal cases, civil cases where the amount involved is more than $10,000, and appeals from magistrate court decisions. They may also hear domestic relation cases, and post-conviction relief actions where an inmate is challenging their conviction or incarceration.[4]
Magistrate division
- See also: Idaho Magistrate Division
The Idaho Magistrate Division is a division of the Idaho District Courts. Magistrate judges hear misdemeanor criminal cases and civil actions where the amount in dispute does not exceed $10,000. Magistrate judges may issue arrest warrants and search warrants, they may handle habeas corpus proceedings, along with domestic relation, juvenile, and probate cases. Magistrate judges may hold preliminary hearings in criminal cases to determine whether or not to send the case to the district court for a jury trial for a felony offense.[4][5] Decisions of the Magistrate Division are appealed to the district courts.
In other states
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ State of Idaho Judicial Branch, "History & Procedures of the Idaho Supreme Court," accessed September 14, 2021
- ↑ State of Idaho Judicial Branch, "Supreme Court," accessed September 14, 2021
- ↑ Justia - Idaho Statutes, "ID Code § 1-2403 (2013)," accessed March 5, 2021
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Idaho Judicial Branch, "Overview of the Idaho Court System," accessed March 3, 2021
- ↑ Idaho's Judicial Structure
Federal courts:
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Idaho • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Idaho
State courts:
Idaho Supreme Court • Idaho Court of Appeals • Idaho District Courts • Idaho Magistrate Division
State resources:
Courts in Idaho • Idaho judicial elections • Judicial selection in Idaho
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