Judges tell Senate committee Idaho courts face recruiting, retention and workload strains; requests for judges in First and Seventh districts

Three Idaho district judges told the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee that the state’s courts face declining applicant pools for judgeships, rising early departures from the bench and heavy caseloads that are increasing pressure on trial calendars.

“District Judge applications and Magistrate Judge applications are down,” said Rick Carnaroli, a sixth-district administrative judge chambered in Pocatello. “We would have an average of 11 applications 5 years ago. We're down to 4.6 the last year.”

Carnaroli said the tribunal is seeing fewer applicants with the breadth of civil and criminal experience judges need, and that several recent judicial retirees left for paid work outside the judiciary rather than to phased senior-judge status. “In the last fiscal year, we've had 7 retirements. 4 of those judges went on to take other jobs,” he said, adding that the loss reduces senior-judge capacity used to cover vacations, illness and lengthy trials.

Barry…