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Committee Sends SB 1029 to Floor to Add District Judge in Eastern Idaho (Bonneville)
Summary
The committee voted to send Senate Bill 1029 to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation. The bill would add a district judge in the Seventh Judicial District chambered in Bonneville County; the sponsor and court counsel cited travel time and caseload concerns. Senator Lenny registered a vocal no during the discussion.
Jason Spellman, legal counsel for the Administrative Office of the Courts, presented Senate Bill 1029 to the Senate Judiciary & Rules Committee, requesting a new district judge position for the Seventh Judicial District to be chambered in Bonneville County.
Spellman said the Seventh District comprises 10 counties and currently has six district judges assigned to cover them. He told the committee the district has experienced population growth of about 22% in the past decade and that judges spend substantial time traveling between courthouses. "The trial court administrator is estimated," Spellman said, "the current district judges spend more than 51 days a year of windshield time just getting from courthouse to courthouse to hear cases, where they're assigned." He also said Bonneville County serves as the medical hub of eastern Idaho and handles complex medical-malpractice litigation, placing extra demands on judge time.
Senators questioned compensation and district organization. Senator Shippy asked whether judges are compensated differently for travel; Spellman said they are not paid differently for time spent traveling and that travel expenses are accounted for separately. Senator Acdy asked how many judges other districts have; Spellman described rotation and prioritization of judicial resources by the court. Senator Lenny said he planned to vote against the bill on fiscal-growth grounds.
Senator Lent moved to send SB 1029 to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation; Senator Wintrow seconded. The committee approved the motion by voice vote and the bill will proceed to the Senate floor. The transcript records Senator Lenny stating he would vote no on the bill; the committee asked whether he wished to be recorded and he did.
If enacted, SB 1029 would amend statutory authorization for district judges to add a position chambered in Bonneville County; appropriation and implementation details will be addressed in subsequent committee and floor action.
