Bill to add a judge in Kootenai County introduced

BOISE — A Senate committee Monday introduced two bills that would create a new district judge position in both Bonneville County and Kootenai County.

Idaho Supreme Court Chief Justice G. Richard Bevan in his annual State of the Judiciary address called for more judges to address a growing population and other challenges in rural districts.

Jason Spillman, attorney for the Idaho courts, presented the proposed bills Monday in the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee. The expected cost of both would total around $816,000 for the salary and benefits for district judges and court reporters; this projection wouldn’t include the court's requested salary increase for judges.

“There’s a need for several additional judicial positions,” Spillman told committee members. “However, the court has been thoughtful about trying to have the districts take their turns, or certain counties take their turns, recognizing there‘s a need in several areas.”

In Kootenai County, local judges are seeing the highest level of filings per judge in the state, according to the bill’s statement of purpose. The county is in the state’s first judicial district, and district judges outside the county have been traveling to Kootenai to assist with the heavy caseloads.

Traveling judges have been spending over a week each month in Kootenai County, resulting in a lot of time spent traveling, the statement said.

The courts this year are also asking the Legislature for a nearly 30% increase in judicial pay across the board to address recruitment and retention problems.

The committee voted unanimously Monday to introduce the two bills, allowing them to come back for public hearings.