Committee approves judicial compensation increases and two new district judges, plus magistrates and IT staffing
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Summary
The committee approved judicial salary increases and funding for additional judges and related resources, including court reporters and IT positions, aligning appropriations with recently considered bills and court staffing requests.
The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee approved funding March 12 for judicial compensation increases and additional judicial resources requested for FY2026.
Senator Cook moved a package that included a $3,870,000 allocation for judicial compensation as described in House Bill 322: a 10% increase for Supreme Court justices, 10.5% for Court of Appeals justices, 10.9% for district judges and 11.5% for magistrate judges. The motion also included $1,242,400 and six additional FTE for judicial resources to fund one new district judge in the First Judicial District (Coeur d'Alene) and one new district judge in the Seventh Judicial District (Bonneville County), court reporter resources tied to each district judge, and two new magistrate judges (one in the Fifth Judicial District in Twin Falls and one in the Seventh Judicial District in Idaho Falls). A separate $77,900 enhancement funded IT positions.
Judicial staff told the committee the requested judicial compensation item had been funded in House Bill 322, with appropriation language following the policy. Committee members recorded a joint roll call vote approving the motion; the total appropriation for FY2026 was reported as an overall increase of approximately 5.5% above FY2025 for the judicial branch.
Committee chairs said the resources would align staffing where caseload and workload analysis indicated need, and included adjustments for court reporters at the same pay rate as existing staff.