Committee backs adding district judge to Kootenai County to ease heavy caseload

The House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee on a voice vote agreed to send Senate Bill 1028 to the full House with a due-pass recommendation. The bill would add an additional district judge position chambered in Kootenai County.

Supporters told the committee that Kootenai County’s courts are dealing with heavy felony and drug caseloads and that judges from other districts are being brought in to cover the work. "Kootenai County is overwhelmed with cases," Representative Joe Alfieri (R., Coeur d'Alene) said when introducing the bill.

Jason Spillman, legal counsel at the Administrative Office of the Courts, described the judicial-request process and cited Title 1, Chapter 8 (the statutory section that fixes the number and location of district judges). He said the First Judicial District covers Boundary, Bonner, Kootenai, Shoshone and Benewah counties and currently has seven district judge positions, four of which are chambered in Kootenai County. "The population growth in Kootenai County in particular has been quite significant," Spillman said, noting both population increases and high filings per district judge.

Spillman said the judiciary consults with local county officials before requesting a new position and that Kootenai County commissioners have expressed support. He asked the committee to send the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation.

Committee members voiced support for timely access to the courts. Representative Ehart said the proposal balances costs and the public’s right to be heard in a timely manner. No members of the public testified against the bill.

The committee chair called for the motion and the committee recorded the motion as carrying. The bill will now move to the full House for further consideration.

Further steps: because district judge positions are set in statute, any final change would alter the statutory list of judges by county if the Legislature approves the bill.