Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Judicial Resources topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate Bill 1029 seeks additional district judge in Bonneville County amid long travel times for judges; committee advances bill
Summary
Senate Bill 1029, presented by the Administrative Office of the Courts, would add a district judge position to the Seventh Judicial District chambered in Bonneville County to reduce travel and caseload strain; the committee approved the bill and advanced it to the Senate floor, recording one senator's recorded no vote.
Jason Spellman, legal counsel for the Administrative Office of the Courts, told the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee that Senate Bill 1029 would create an additional district judge position in the Seventh Judicial District, to be chambered in Bonneville County. The committee approved a motion to send the bill to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation; Senator Lenny stated on the record he would vote no.
Spellman said the Seventh District now has six district judges covering 10 counties and that the district has seen about a 22% population increase over the last 10 years. He described significant travel requirements for judges in the district: the trial court administrator estimated current district judges spend more than 51 days per year in travel time (so-called “windshield time”) moving between courthouses. Spellman said Bonneville County functions as the medical hub of eastern Idaho, which contributes to complex, highly litigated cases being heard there.
Spellman said four judges travel outside their chambered counties to handle calendars in Bonneville and that the additional position would reduce travel burdens and help keep cases moving. The committee heard no public testimony and voted to advance SB 1029 to the Senate floor.
Senator Lent moved to send SB 1029 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation and Senator Wintrow seconded. Senator Lenny stated on the record he intended to vote no, citing concerns about growth in government costs; the motion otherwise passed by voice vote.
