Committee advances bill to add district judge in Seventh Judicial District (Bonneville)

The House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee voted to send Senate Bill 1029 to the House floor with a due-pass recommendation after supporters described long driving times and heavy case loads for judges in the Seventh Judicial District.

Representative Dustin Manwaring (R., District 29) introduced the request and said the Seventh Judicial District is geographically large and that judges frequently travel across counties to cover dockets. "We've had serious population increases in the last 10 years," Manwaring said, and he argued that an additional judge chambered in Bonneville County would reduce travel and allow judges more time to write decisions.

Jason Spillman of the Administrative Office of the Courts provided details: the Seventh Judicial District covers 10 counties and has six district judges (three assigned to Bonneville, one each in Madison, Jefferson and Bingham). He said judges spend an estimated 51 days per year in travel time simply moving between courthouses for regular hearings. The last district judge added for Bonneville was in 1993, he said, and the district has seen substantial population growth.

Spillman said the Bonneville County commissioners have submitted a letter of support and understand the county will incur some costs to chamber the judge. Representative Alfieri moved the committee action; the committee approved the motion and the bill will proceed to the floor.

The committee recorded one member asking to be recorded as a nay during the voice vote, but the motion carried. The bill now moves to the full House for consideration.