Committee OKs printing of two RSs requesting new district judges in Kootenai and Bonneville counties

The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee voted to print two request slips that seek to add district judge positions: RS 31-981 would create a judgeship chambered in Kootenai County (First Judicial District) and RS 31-982 would create a judgeship chambered in Bonneville County (Seventh Judicial District).

Jason Spellman, legal counsel with the Administrative Office of the Courts at the Idaho Supreme Court, described both RS requests as responses to heavy caseloads and population growth. "The number of district judge positions are established in Title I, Chapter 8 of Idaho Code," Spellman said, and adding judges requires amending that statutory language. He said the Kootenai request is driven in part by the inefficiency of two judges from outside Kootenai routinely traveling into the county to hear cases. The Bonneville request is driven by similar workload pressures combined with long "windshield time" caused by the Seventh District's large geographic footprint.

Senator Wintrow moved and Senator Ricks seconded the motion to send RS 31-981 to print; the motion carried on a voice vote. Senator Ricks moved and Senator Wintrow seconded the motion to send RS 31-982 to print; that motion also carried.

Committee members asked how the court evaluates the need for additional judgeships; Spellman described a budgeting and assessment process led by trial court administrators that rolls into the court's budget requests to the legislature. The committee did not set judicial salaries or create the positions in this meeting; it voted to print the RSs for further consideration and a merits hearing.