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Committee backs adding district judge for Kootenai County
Summary
The House Judiciary Committee voted to send Senate Bill 1028 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation after testimony that Kootenai County's courts are overburdened and judges from other districts are regularly brought in to cover the caseload.
Senate Bill 1028, which would add a district judge position chambered in Kootenai County, was sent to the House floor with a due-pass recommendation after the House Judiciary and Rules and Administration Committee heard testimony that the county's courts are overburdened.
Jason Spillman, legal counsel for the Administrative Office of the Courts, told the committee that the First Judicial District (which includes Kootenai County) has grown rapidly and has a high filings-per-judge rate. “Kootenai is the third fastest growing county in the state, estimated population of 185,000 as of July of 2023,” Spillman said, and said judges from other counties are regularly traveling to cover Kootenai dockets. He referred the committee to Title 1, Chapter 8 for the statutory provisions that set the number and location of district judges.
Representative Joe Alfieri, who sponsored the bill, said the district is handling a large number of felony and drug prosecutions and that the state is already incurring costs by bringing in out-of-district judges. Alfieri asked the committee to forward the bill so the Legislature can address the county’s workload.
Spillman said the Administrative Office of the Courts consulted Kootenai County commissioners and received the county’s support; commissioners are aware county resources (space and staff) will be required for a new chambered judge. He also said a new facility in the county now provides space for an additional judge.
After questions from members, Representative Gannon moved to send the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; the motion carried and the committee recorded the result as unanimous.
Votes at a glance: The committee voted to send Senate Bill 1028 to the House floor with a due-pass recommendation; the committee reported the motion carried unanimously.
Background and next steps: Adding a district judge requires a statutory change to the number and chambering of judges; Spillman cited Title 1, Chapter 8 as the controlling statutory location. If forwarded by the House, the change will require action by both chambers and, if enacted, coordination with Kootenai County for space and local staffing support.
